olympics markets THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Pages 14, 15 & 16 Established in 1977 / www.arabtimesonline.com Page 9

SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021 / ZUL-HIJJAH 15, 1442 AH emergency number 112 NO. 17745 16 PAGES 150 FILS Mosafer: ‘It doesn’t work ... Kill it!’ Health ‘quits’ Opinion Amir lauds Saudis on Hajj KUWAIT CITY, July 24, (KUNA): es provided for worshippers. By Saeed Mahmoud Saleh His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Meanwhile, His Highness also Arab Times Staff Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a thanked Advisor of King Salman, congratulatory cable to Saudi King Makkah Governor and head of the cen- KUWAIT CITY, July Good manners, reputation, we give Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, tral Hajj committee Khalid bin Faisal 24: MP Hamad Al- Thursday, on the successful Hajj sea- bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Minister of son, especially with the current coro- Interior and head of the Supreme Hajj Matar and several navirus situation. committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud other lawmakers have him our daughter, but not the State His Highness the Amir also hailed bin Nayef Al Saud for their efforts to asked the Directorate Saudi’s expansion efforts and servic- organize the Hajj season. General of Civil Avia- tion (DGCA) to cancel By Ahmed Al-Jarallah the decision obligating Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times Kuwaiti travelers to FOR the third time in less than two years, register on ‘Mosafer’ international credit institutions have lowered platform. Kuwait’s credit rating. For the second time in Al-Matar also suggested two years, the local economy has shrunk by a assigning medical teams at sharp rate, reaching 9.9 percent last year. Kuwait International Airport The concerned government did nothing to to conduct PCR test for Ku- stop this economic deterioration that affects waiti arriving passengers for all aspects of life in the country. It seems as free. He stressed that free though what is happening does not concern health care is guaranteed by Kuwait, its people and its economy. the Constitution. The credit rating process is related to the He wondered why only Ku- state’s fi nancial position, investments, the pri- waitis stranded abroad are suf- vate sector, and the purchasing power of the fering due to high prices of plane tickets. He then reiterated the national currency. Therefore, taking action to need to cancel the requirement confront this continuous decline is an urgent for Kuwaiti travelers to register necessity. on ‘Mosafer’ platform. The executive authority must bear its re- Commenting on the same is- sponsibility. It has many tools and powers sue, MP Khalid Al-Anzi asserted to address the imbalance. The legislative that the platform has been proven authority is also concerned with this matter to be a failure. He stressed the but it does not bear the responsibility on the need to replace it with a better alternative. same level as the government, which invokes He said other countries have flimsy excuses such as the failure of the Na- been flexible in dealing with CO- tional Assembly to allow it to take reform VID-19, while Kuwait still lacks measures. a clear vision and integrated plan How did this government, which has been in this regard. holding on to such excuses, manage to para- MP Hesham Al-Saleh called lyze the National Assembly when interpel- for facilitating procedures for citizens, especially during the lations increased? How was it able to pass travel season. He recommended the laws it wanted with an open game, while exempting citizens from paying standing on the hill and watching the fire for PCR test and canceling the when it finds that the matter does not con- A Palestinian woman enjoys the day on the beach during the Eid Al Adha festival in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 21. The major Muslim holiday ‘Mosafer’ platform registration cern it? at the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah is observed around the world by believers and commemorates Prophet Abraham’s (PBUH) requirement. pledge to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. (AP) Isn’t the country’s credit and sovereign rat- Confi rmed ing one of the core aspects of its powers? It MP Bader Al-Humaidi con- needs to make sure its continued decline does firmed that DGCA Chairman not rise to the level of crime, for which no one Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Sa- else will be held responsible. Indeed, no one lem Al-Sabah promised to cancel remembers what MP Muhammad Mutair or China rebuffs WHO COVID probe the aforementioned requirement Obaid Al-Wasmi or some other MPs said in as soon as possible. this regard. BEIJING, July 24, (AP): China cannot MP Abdullah Al-Mudaf asked Today we are facing one of the worst stages accept the World Health Organization’s Minister of Defense Sheikh in the country’s economic management. This plan for the second phase of a study into Hamad Jaber Al-Ali about the is because His Highness the Prime Minister, Newswatch the origins of COVID-19, a senior Chi- rationale behind the decision nese health official said Thursday. requiring citizens to input a lot who is morally upright, left matters in the Zeng Yixin, the vice minister of the of personal information on the hands of the ministers. They committed short- National Health Commission, said he was platform. He wants to know if comings more than once, and some of them LOS ANGELES: The chair of former President It extended condolences for families of the “rather taken aback” that the plan includes such personal data can be leaked took matters as personal affairs. Donald Trump’s inaugural committee was or- victims and wished speedy recovery for the further investigation of the theory that the through the platform. For instance, the decisions taken by the dered freed Friday on $250 million bail to face wounded. (KUNA) virus might have leaked from a Chinese lab. In another development, MP Minister of Health triggered a maze of con- charges he secretly worked as an agent for the ❑ ❑ ❑ He dismissed the lab leak idea as a ru- Khalid Al-Anzi asked Minister the United Arab Emirates to infl uence Trump’s mor that runs counter to common sense of Information and Minister of fusion. The Minister of Commerce, who was foreign policy. DUBAI: Two passenger jets from low-cost car- rier FlyDubai and Bahrain-based Gulf Air col- and science. State for Youth Affairs Abdulrah- disturbed by an editorial piece, refused to re- Tom Barrack, 74, will be subject to electronic “It is impossible for us to accept such man Badah Al-Mutairi to refer the spond to the calls to clarify the ambiguity in monitoring and largely confi ned to his residence lided with each other on the taxiway at Dubai International Airport early Thursday morning, an origin-tracing plan,” he said at a news team behind a television program his confl icting statements. after he is arraigned Monday in a New York conference called to address the COV- aired by Channel 2 Kuwait TV for courtroom. He was arrested Tuesday in Los An- though authorities reported no injuries in the in- Can we really address a major crisis similar cident. ID-19 origins issue. investigation. He pointed out that geles near his home. The search for where the virus came the program depicted Prophets — to the one we are experiencing today? Barrack is expected to plead not guilty to con- FlyDubai said one of its Boeing 737-800s As for the Minister of Finance, who is more heading to Kyrgyzstan found itself affected by from has become a diplomatic issue that Peace Be Upon Them — inappro- spiring to infl uence US policy on the UAE’s be- priately and without consulting concerned with fi nancial affairs than others, half during Trump’s 2016 campaign and while ”a minor incident” and forced to return to the has fueled China’s deteriorating relations Trump was president. Barrack, the founder of stand. It said passengers took a later fl ight, which with the U.S. and many American al- the concerned religious institu- he came out to us a few days ago with one of tions. He vowed to follow up the the most bizarre statements. private equity fi rm Colony Capital, was among departed six hours later. (AP) lies. The U.S. and others say that China three men charged in the case. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑ has not been transparent about what hap- steps that Al-Mutairi will take re- He stated, “The fi nancial position of the ❑ ❑ ❑ pened in the early days of the pandemic. garding the issue. State of Kuwait is very strong because it is DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant acknowl- China accuses critics of seeking to blame On the other hand, MP Mehal- fully supported by the future generations re- KUWAIT CITY: His Highness the Amir Sheikh edged Wednesday that leaked data from the it for the pandemic and politicizing an is- hal Al-Mudaf forwarded queries serve fund. Despite this, the Kuwaiti economy Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a company — fi les now apparently being used in a sue that should be left to scientists. to Minister of Oil and Higher cable of condolence to Saudi King Salman bin cyber-extortion attempt involving a $50 million Education Muhammad Al-Fares is in dire need of a fi nancial reform process in ransom demand — likely came from one of its The Biden administration in a state- Abdulaziz Al Saud on Wednesday, over the ment Thursday criticized China’s rejec- about the harmful gas from Zour order to treat its structural imbalances.” death of Princess Nouf bint Khaled bin Abdul- contractors. The Saudi Arabian Oil Co., better known as tion of the WHO’s plan for the second and Doha power plants. He wants Here we ask His Excellency the minister - lah Al Saud. phase of a study into the origins of CO- to know when was the last time Who is responsible for the state’s fi nances? His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Saudi Aramco, told The Associated Press that it “recently became aware of the indirect release VID-19. the quantity of harmful gas emit- Isn’t it the government as a whole, particular- Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and “We are deeply disappointed. Their ted by these power plants was His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah of a limited amount of company data which was ly your Excellency the Minister of Finance? Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah also sent similar held by third-party contractors.” (AP) position is irresponsible and, frankly, measured, available solutions to This means, aren’t you the fi rst one to be re- cables to King Salman. (KUNA) ❑ ❑ ❑ dangerous,” the White House said. stop the emission of harmful gas, sponsible for setting reform plans? Or are you ❑ ❑ ❑ “Alongside other member states around and measures taken by the Envi- waiting for fi nancial reform to descend upon RABAT: Morocco’s government is denying re- the world, we continue to call for China ronment Public Authority (EPA) KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait Foreign Ministry ports that the country’s security forces may have to provide the needed access to data and to prevent such pollution. He you from the sky? Wednesday urged citizens wishing to travel to used spyware made by Israel’s NSO Group to samples. And this is critical so we can requested for copies of the most Did the drop in oil prices negatively impact Indonesia to postpone their plans due to the crit- eavesdrop on the cellphones of France’s presi- understand to prevent the next pandemic. recent decisions issued by EPA only Kuwait or also on the rest of the Gulf ical health situation caused by the rapid spread of dent and other public fi gures. This is about saving lives in the future, in this regard. Cooperation Council countries? Did the COV- the coronavirus. On Wednesday, the public prosecutor’s offi ce and it’s not a time to be stonewalling.” He also submitted questions ID-19 pandemic hit Kuwait alone? If not, then The Ministry’s Consular Department said ordered an investigation into what it called false Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the to the same minister about the Indonesian authorities were adopting necessary allegations that Moroccan security services used director-general of WHO, acknowledged internal and overseas scholar- how did the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and measures to curb spread of the virus. NSO malware to spy on activists, journalists and even Bahrain manage to benefi t from the drop last week that there had been a “prema- ship programs. He asked if these It called on Kuwaiti citizens currently in Indo- politicians in multiple countries. (AP) ture push” after the first phase of the study scholarships include specializa- ❑ ❑ ❑ in oil prices, and from negative repercussions nesia to leave the country immediately for their to rule out the theory that the virus might tions which are not needed by of the COVID-19 pandemic on its economies, own safety. (KUNA) have escaped from a Chinese government ❑ ❑ ❑ RABAT: A Moroccan held for 19 years without the local labor market according let alone their ability to strengthen their sover- charges at the US detention facility for terror sus- lab in Wuhan, the city where the disease to the Civil Service Commis- eign fi nancial position, and even increase their KUWAIT CITY: The state of Kuwait on Tuesday pects at Guantánamo Bay has rejoined his family was first detected in late 2019. sion (CSC), number of students national wealth? condemned the terrorist attack against a market after questioning by police in this North African in each specialization in every The government can remedy all these im- in Sadr City in eastern Baghdad, which killed kingdom, his lawyer said Tuesday. country and university, total cost balances, and initiate a radical reform plan, if 28 people and injured scores others. Abdullatif Nasser, now 56, is the fi rst detainee of scholarships for the unneces- it wants to do so, through necessary decrees, In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Af- at the Guantánamo Bay center to be transferred Day by Day sary specializations, number of fairs underlined Kuwait’s solidarity with Iraq to into the custody of his home country under the beneficiaries, cost of each schol- either with the public debt law or by fi xing the maintain its security and stability. administration of President Joe Biden. (AP) arship starting from the student‘s investment defect that made Kuwait a repul- WHEN leaders of nations realize the registration until graduation, if sive state. worth of ‘competent people’, they do any unnecessary specialization It is also able to impose all this on the Na- not care about a person’s nationality. was added to the plan despite the tional Assembly; and if the Parliament refus- The Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Moham- declaration of the CSC in this Dashti in first med bin Rashid, has made Kuwaiti regard, and if the ministry has a es, it can dissolve it and shut it down, and no businessman Mohammed Al-Shaya one will regret it. TOKYO, July 24, (KUNA): member of the advisory board of the plan to remove unnecessary spe- The Constitution permits such a measure ... Swimmer Lara Dashti became Dubai International Chamber. cializations. He requested for a At a time when countries of the copy of such plan, if any. Democracy is the basis of economic prosper- Kuwait’s first female athlete to MP Abdulaziz Al-Saqaabi have ever lifted her country’s region are busy implementing their ity if it has political stability ... But adventur- plans and moving forward our country asked Minister of Health Dr Basel ism, indifference, and reliance on the good flag at an Olympic opening cer- is moving backwards. This is because Al-Sabah about the alleged mass reputation and high morals of His Highness emony as she took part in the our government is in deep slumber. resignation of expatriate doctors, the Prime Minister are not just suffi cient to event alongside fellow men’s We have a government whose Min- nurses and health practitioners. run the country. shooter Talal Al-Rashidi at the ister of Commerce has added salmon He demanded for a list of Tokyo 2020 Games on Friday. fillets and shrimps to the list of sub- expatriates who have resigned Email: [email protected] sidized foodstuff because these two since April 2020, including their The illustrious sporting event commodities contain phosphorous Follow me on: has allowed two competitors nationalities and jobs as well as that helps a person sleep longer, but it copies of their employment con- to carry their nation’s flag in is also said there is suspicion of favor- tracts. unison for the first time ever, itism in that, and perhaps Nazaha will He also inquired about the breaking a decades-old tradi- KUNA photo move to investigate. [email protected] number, nationalities and quali- tion requiring a single flag Kuwaiti athletes led by Lara Dashti and Talal Al Rashidi during ... Yet, tomorrow is another day. fications of medical staff hired bearer. the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony. Zahed Matar during the COVID-19 crisis. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021 2

Weather Expected weather for next 24 hrs: relatively humid over coastal ar- Abdaly 49 32 Prayer Timings By Day: Very hot with light to mod- eas with light to moderate north Jahra 50 34 Fajr ...... 03:32 Asr ...... 15:30 erate freshening at times north west- westerly wind to light variable Salmiyah 45 37 Sunrise .. 05:03 Maghrib .. 18:46 erly wind to light variable wind with wind with speeds of 06-26 km/h. Ahmadi 47 37 Zohr ...... 11:54 Isha ...... 20:13 speeds of 12-45 km/h with a chance Station Max Exp Min Rec Wafra 49 32 for rising dust over open areas. Kuwait City 49 37 Salmy 47 32 By Night: Hot to rather hot and Kuwait Airport 49 33 Jal Aliyah 49 32

VACCINE REGISTRATION WEBSITE: https://cov19vaccine.moh.gov.kw/SPCMS/CVD_19_Vaccine_Registration.aspx

KD 107.2b dip expected Ten ‘scenarios’ prepared by MoF on budget deficit KUWAIT CITY, July 24: According to rate is 2.7 billion barrels per day, which in- forecasts prepared by the Ministry of Fi- dicates risk direction. nance as part of the statement on the state’s However, oil price levels contradict all fi nancial situation, the cumulative budget expectations of the ten scenarios prepared defi cit until the 2024/2025 fi scal year could in this regard, as they were prepared under reach about KD 107.2 billion, under the as- the assumption of a further decline in oil sumption of an oil price of $10 per barrel prices. It is noted that none of them indi- and production rate of two million barrels cated the hypothesis of oil prices exceeding per day, reports Al-Rai daily. the threshold of $60 during the fi ve years. It is evident that this prediction can be It is worth noting that the average price considered as the most pessimistic in the of a barrel of Kuwaiti oil during the last fi s- accounts of the ministry, but it was not the cal year, specifi cally in the fi rst 11 months only scenario prepared by the ministry con- of the April 2020-February 2021 fi scal year cerning its expectations for possible defi cit was about $ 41.6, which is higher by about levels within fi ve years. $ 11.6, or 38.5 percent over the hypotheti- Informed sources explained that ten sce- cal price estimated in the previous budget, narios were prepared, all of which predict which was about $30 a barrel. the existence of a cumulative defi cit in the Prices budget for this period. They were devoid of any optimistic expectations that exclude the Prices rose in the last period to record the occurrence of a defi cit. price of a barrel of Kuwaiti oil at $75.47. According to the scenarios prepared by On the other hand, the scenarios prepared the Ministry of Finance in this regard, there by the concerned ministry in this regard are ten hypotheses that have been traced, included the expected revenues during the the least harsh of which is to have a budget fi ve years to reach a total of KD 51.4 bil- defi cit of KD 43.5 billion in fi ve years based lion, which is 6.4 billion in 2020/2021 on an oil price of $60 and a production rate (noting that the estimate according to this KUNA photo of 2.8 million barrels per day. year’s budget is KD 7.5 billion), and KD Systematic entry at the Shuwaikh slaughterhouse as owners with the labourers take their sacrificial sheep to the butchers inside. 9.1 billion by 2021/2022, KD 10.5 billion Assumption in the 2022/2023 fi scal year, KD 12 bil- Huge rush seen at Shuwaikh, Ahmadi slaughterhouses As for the assumption that oil will reach lion by 2023/2024, and KD 13.4 billion by $30 in the 2020/2021 fi scal year, $40 in 2024/2025 fi scal year. Many citizens and expatriates headed for necessity to come during the first day. The devotees filled the mosques and ad- 2021/2022, $45 in 2022/2023, $50 in As for the expected defi cit, government slaughter houses on the first day of Eid Al- Crowds at the slaughter houses are dis- jacent compounds with Allaho Akbar chants. 2023/2024 and $55 in 2024/2025, and on forecasts indicate that it will reach KD Adha Tuesday to perform the rite of slaugh- couraged due to the novel coronavirus. Only Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs al- the basis of a production rate of 2.7 million 14.6 billion in the 2020/2021 fi scal year, tering a livestock. An extraordinary rush was a single person is permitted into the houses lowed women to perform the Eid prayers at barrels per day in all of the above mentioned knowing that the estimate, before adding witnessed at the abattoirs as most of the peo- to received sacrificed lamb. And children are the large mosques and the surrounding yards. years, forecasts indicate a cumulative defi - the front-liners rewards of KD 600 mil- ple wanted to make the sacrifice on the first not allowed in. The worshippers observed health precau- cit of KD 64.2 billion for this period. lion, reached KD 14.052 billion. The defi - day of Eid. Meanwhile, earlier, amid a warm spiritual at- tions, wearing protective masks, keeping a It is worth mentioning that all scenarios cit is expected to reach KD 13.1 billion in Authorities declared that these houses will mosphere, worshippers performed Eid Al-Adha short distance from each other and abstain- prepared by the ministry take into account 2021/2022, KD 12.7 billion in 2022/2023, be open during all Eid days, thus there is no prayers at Kuwaiti mosques on Tuesday. ing from hand shaking. (KUNA) the return of future generations fund trans- KD 12.1 billion in 2023/2024, and KD 11.7 fers (ten percent of revenues) for these billion in 2024/2025 fi scal year. years, as the deductions had been stopped As for expenditures, forecasts suggested since the 2018/2019 fi scal year due to the that it would reach KD 110.6 billion in the ‘Prayer for Kuwait stability, security’ pressure of the fi nancial defi cit. fi ve years, distributed by KD 20.4 billion Despite the existence of the harshest sce- in 2020/2021, knowing that the estimate in nario that assumes a defi cit of KD 107.2 this year’s budget amounted to KD 21.555 million, the most alarming of all appears to billion. Forecasts expected expenditures Top govt officials convey Eid greetings be the scenario of a defi cit of KD 64.2 bil- to reach KD 21.3 billion in 2021/2022, lion. This is based on the assumption that KD 22.1 billion in 2022/2023, KD 23 bil- the average price of a barrel during the fi ve lion in 2023/2024, and KD 23.8 billion in KUWAIT CITY, July 24, (KUNA): His Highness the Crown Prince, and both Arab and Muslim nations. years is $ 45 and the average production 2024/2025. The MPs wished His Highness the Crown Prince everlasting well-being Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- and Kuwait further progress and prosperity. Sabah on Monday received messages of congratulations The Crown Prince sent a letter of thanks to Al-Ghanim and all lawmakers, 95,000 apply for homes from National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim voicing sincere greetings to them on the Eid. His Highness the Crown Prince and a number of state’s senior officials on the Eid Al-Adha. prayed to Allah the Almighty to maintain Kuwait’s stability, security and safety, and achieve aspirations of both Arab and Muslim nations. ‘Plots available for all housing’ Al-Ghanim expressed, on behalf of the MPs, sincere greetings and His Highness the Crown Prince sent a cable of congratulations to National wished happy returns of this joyful occasion to His Highness the Guard Chief His Highness Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah on the occasion, KUWAIT CITY, July 24: The Public Au- obstacles affiliated with the concerned wishing him permanent thority for Housing Welfare (PAHW) authorities are removed. good health and all the staff revealed that the land plots allocated for The report highlighted that the total hous- further success as well as residential purposes can cover the currently ing applications submitted is about 95,000 Kuwait further security and accumulated housing requests, reports Al- as of mid-April. The housing sector is de- prosperity under the wise Qabas daily. veloping fi ve-year plans for its projects that leadership of His Highness It explained that the total land it received would contribute to reducing the waiting the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- from Kuwait Municipality can cover about period and addressing the increase in hous- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. 150,000 housing units in the projects in ing applications. The distributions made Meanwhile, His Highness Mirqab, Sabriya, Nawaf Al-Ahmad, and during the last fi ve-year plan are equiva- the Crown Prince received Khairan areas. lent to 69 percent of the total distributions a letter from His Highness A closed Kuwaiti shareholding company during the period from 1956 to 2013. The Sheikh Salem Al-Ali on Eid is being established to develop some proj- allocation has currently reached the Decem- Al-Adha, expressing sincere ects and the land allocated to it, including ber 2020 applications, which indicates a re- greetings and congratula- the Mirqab project, for which PAHW has duction in the waiting periods for existing tions of the Guard’s staff. completed environmental studies. housing requests. His Highness the Crown According to the report, the project in The report concluded by stating that the Prince sent a message of the south of Saad Al-Abdullah city has 2021/2025 fi ve-year housing plan includes congratulations to Sheikh completed advisory services. The cost the construction of about 59,000 housing Mubarak Al-Abdullah Al- for the implementation of the main road units, out of which 24,508 are in South Ahmad Al-Sabah on the same networks and infrastructural services Saad Al-Abdullah, 20,380 in South Sabah occasion, wishing him good has been included in the budget of the Al-Ahmad, and the rest of the units are Sa- health, and Kuwait further 2021/2022 fiscal year. It will be contract- bah Al-Ahmad apartments, low-cost hous- growth and fortune under the ed to implement it after it is approved by es, houses in East Taima and apartments in wise leadership of His High- the Ministry of Finance and after all the Jaber Al-Ahmad. ness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. In return, His Highness the Crown Prince received a letter of thanks from Sheikh Mubarak Al-Abdullah, wish- ing His Highness the Amir everlasting well-being as well as Kuwait, and Arab and Muslim nations further success and fl ourishing. The Crown Prince received greetings from His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al- Hamad Al-Sabah, Chairman of Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) and President of Ap- peals Court Judge Ahmad Al-Ajeel, and Deputy Chief Engineer Ghanem Al-Otaibi of National Guard Lieutenant General Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Kuwaiti chosen for space mission Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. All the dignitaries voiced The Kuwait University has expressed its ics Department at the Kuwait University, their sincere congratulations pride following the choosing of Engineer besides being an active member of the to His Highness the Crown Ghanem Al-Otaibi for a space mission university’s first Kuwaiti national satel- Prince on Eid Al-Adha, -- the first Kuwaiti on the satellite team, lite project. wishing him everlasting reports Al-Seyassah daily. He recently represented Kuwait in well-being, praying to Allah The university said in a press state- Poland, where he completed a simu- to maintain Kuwait’s secu- ment Eng Al-Otaibi, works in the Phys- lated mission for astronauts. rity, safety and stability. They expressed their appre- ciation to efforts made by His Highness the Crown Prince News in Brief for the country, under the wise leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ah- mad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Jobs in foreign missions: The Min- advance in a vacancies plan. Furthermore, the Crown istry of Higher Education has announced Al-Sinan explained that the start date Prince received cables of the launch of a vacancy plan for foreign of applying for the external vacancy plan congratulations from the missions for the academic year 2021/2022 for this year has been postponed to match ministers, governors, senior for students who passed high school in the the date of announcing the results of ad- offi cials, diplomatic mission years 2019- 2020 and 2020-2021, start- mission to Kuwait University, in order staff, Kuwaitis and expats on ing from next Tuesday until the following to provide the opportunity for those who the same occasion. Thursday, registration will be via the min- were not accepted at Kuwait University to istry’s website. register in the external vacancy plan of the His Highness the Crown Ministry of Higher Education. Prince replied with cables of The Assistant Undersecretary for Scholarships, Equivalencies and Cultural She indicated that there are more than thanks, praying to Allah the Relations, the official spokesman for 4,000 male and female students waiting Almighty to return, with hap- the ministry, Fatima Al-Sanan, said in a to apply in various educational institu- piness, this joyful occasion press statement on Saturday, that based tions who were unable to take the high to Kuwait, and both Arab on the directives of the Minister of Higher school exams for this year due to being and Muslim nations. Education, Dr. Muhammad Al-Faris, the infected with coronavirus or their contact He wished Kuwait and absorptive capacity for admission to the with infected people during the secondary its loyal people, along with foreign missions plan for this year has exams period, which forced them to enter Arabs and Muslims, further increased to give the greatest possible op- the exceptional exams of the Ministry of progress and prosperity as portunity for male and female students to Education. well as security. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021 LOCAL 3 diwaniya A DIGEST OF PUBLIC OPINION ‘Other GCC states must follow UAE, Saudis, enter nuclear fi eld’ “WHEN the print media and the social media started carrying news about “Given the above, we hope other GCC member states will catch up with the stress, we try to keep them updated on the patients’ condition fi rst-hand, the debates crisis between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab the same march and follow the example of the Saudi step and connect King- yet we are exposed to the worst kinds of insult and physical abuse. United Emirates (UAE) over the extension of ‘OPEC’ agreement related to dom with the Sultanate of Oman with 664 km road.” “Even those who are physically able to respond to attacks do not want to the reduction of the oil output which has been opposed by the UAE, this cri- Also: do so. We have to understand the feelings of the patients’ relatives, to pro- sis caused extreme anxiety, until the dispute between the two sisterly states tect the dignity of the profession, to seek peaceful means and to explain the was settled on July 14, 2021 by specifying higher level for the UAE’s oil out- “To confront the security chaos, which has begun to increase somewhat in general conditions for treatment, and the diffi culty and severity of the disease put, and everything came to normal between the two recent years as a result of some people’s recklessness and lack of commit- — very few of which ended in death … This happens all over the world. countries and we breathed a sigh of relief,” columnist ment to laws, security measures must be intensifi ed throughout Kuwait, due “The Ministry of Health is unable to protect its medical staff and the Min- Bader Khaled Al-Bahar wrote for Al-Qabas daily. to the many conditions that have occurred in the country and the multiple istry of Interior does not want to intervene until a crime occurs despite the “However, some people may have been surprised changes in the people’s and society’s attitudes in general, while at the same persistence of securitymen to prevent crimes before things develop into hu- to see how some ordinary people like us feared due to time not forgetting the existence of multiple communities with a culture miliation and physical violence. a confl ict between some other states, but these people completely different from the culture and nature of Kuwaiti society in gen- “Circumstances call for protection of these brave people who work beyond should keep in mind that our fate is one just as one eral,” columnist Dr. Issa Mohammad Al-Amiri wrote for Al-Anba daily. their means for the comfort of the sick, but are not ready to continue in light body of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as such “As citizens, we demand the intensifi cation of these efforts by all con- of such shame and terror. if any of the members complain of pain, then all other cerned authorities particularly the Ministry of Interior to increase in the num- “The question here is: Will you fi nd solutions for them or will the situation Gulf states will feel the same. ber of police patrols in various regions, especially trouble areas and areas remain as it is until the entire health system collapses?!” “However, the reconciliation between the brothers prone to recklessness on the streets. ❑ ❑ ❑ this time, is an occasion that shall consecrate the at- “We can say when we live in our beloved country the local authorities tempt that was launched by us along with some spe- Bader Al-Bahar have to implement serious security measures to contain crime as some un- “Health authorities have been asking the community since the beginning cialists more than a decade and half ago – calls for the establishment of ‘a scrupulous elements disregard the laws and tamper with the security of this of the vaccination campaign to expedite the registration on the vaccination Gulf confederation’ which will help the GCC member states to confront the country, which has always been a beacon of security and safety for those who platform to achieve community immunity, but the ill-thought-out plans have regional enemy -- Iran. wish to live a decent life. caused the failure to achieve this goal so far,” columnist Khalid Al-Arafah “The security goal is not impossible in the presence of security personnel “In this connection, we say the GCC ‘Military Confederation’, that was wrote for Al-Anba daily. who are very keen to establish and restore security in a serious manner, and “Many of our Bedoun brothers, as well as expatriate and domestic work- formed during the liberation Kuwait from the Iraqi invasion should have work to prevent crime from occurring and trying always and following a continued and this confederation should have been at the economic level ers, who registered more than four months ago on the vaccination platform series of intensive measures to ensure and deter anyone who is tempted to have not received a vaccination schedule till date. since the fi rst conference of the nuclear energy which was held in 2007 in tamper with the security of the country or endanger the lives and the safety “For the fi rst time, the concerned authorities and the Corona Crisis Man- the UAE under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed (the Crown of others. Security is a top priority in any society and country. agement Team worked hard to vaccinate those who registered, instead of Prince) under the title ‘The Futuristic Sources of Energy in the Arabian Gulf “In the same context, we say the security efforts must be intense and focusing on those who refused vaccination for personal conviction as long as Region’. around the clock and we wish to see an increasing number of CCTV cameras the vaccine is optional and not mandatory. “Participating in the conference were the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the being installed at vital locations to prevent criminals from getting away and “Bedouns and expatriates who are living with us in one ship responded and State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar, which was followed by another con- to detect crimes and those responsible.” registered on the platform, so the health authorities have to vaccinate them ference after two years in the UAE and it emerged that some GCC member ❑ ❑ ❑ as soon as possible. states showed their desire to enter nuclear energy project and we had men- “It was unfair to prevent them from entering complexes before the blessed tioned at length about this issue in our previous articles. “Majority of the medical staff in the corona wards, especially the intensive Eid Al-Adha to buy their needs because of matters that they cannot bear, but “In this connection, we want to pinpoint that we have waited for fourteen care doctors, reiterated that they have no problem in treating patients, be- are borne by those who are in control of distributing appointments, which years for this dream to materialize before commissioning of the UAE’s fi rst cause they follow all modern protocols and are in contact with the largest and caused the slow pace of vaccination. This is evident in the demand of some nuclear station (Baraka), given the fact that this dream was renewed by the most advanced global centers in the treatment of corona disease,” columnist who registered in January but have not been vaccinated until today.” Saudi declaration which announced its national project for the nuclear en- Dr Naji Saoud Al-Zaid wrote for Al-Jarida daily. ergy. “They say: We appreciate the feelings of the patient’s relatives. Despite — Compiled by Zaki Taleb

Over 30,000 travel as 282 fl ights Other Voices The failed, dead institution take off, land at KIA over 3 days dream of more than forty years ago to By Ahmad alsarraf be the nucleus of a greater union but ahraini professor Ali Mohammad neither the fi rst nor the second will be BFakhro published an article under achieved. ‘We don’t interfere in other countries’ affairs’ the title “When will consciences and Perhaps some will breathe a sigh minds wake up?” Its topic relates to the state of hypocrisy and denial ex- of relief at the failure of achieving an perienced by the integrated economic union between KUWAIT CITY, July 24: Director of the the GCC states, and other diffi cult Air Transport Department at the Directo- Gulf States re- garding the Gulf and costly joint projects that we were rate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Ab- Cooperation dreaming of. If it had happened, the dullah Al-Rajhi said during the three days Council, which losses would now have been much of the Eid Al-Adha holidays the Kuwait has not faced greater and more comprehensive, and weakness and the situation would have been more International Airport (KIA) handled about disintegration in complicated as a result of the current 30.6 thousand incoming and outgoing pas- its history as it is raging dispute between two infl uential sengers aboard 282 fl ights, reports Al-Anba now. members of the GCC which preceded Mr. Fakhro it and will be followed by other differ- daily. demanded that ences, and a huge political, psycholog- Al-Rajhi stated on the first day of Eid the KIA wit- we acknowl- alsarraf ical and fi nancial loss for all parties. nessed the operation of about 90 flights, distributed edge that the The collapse of a marriage without among 44 incoming flights and 46 departures, while the Gulf Cooperation Council is currently children is one thing, and its collapse second day of Eid witnessed the operation of about 95 infected with disease, disintegration with children is another. flights between incoming and outgoing flights, and the and loss due to the astonishing rise of Mr. Fakhro reiterates that the ab- third day of about 97 flights. temporary political selfi shness and ex- sence of the popular participation of Al-Rajhi praised the success of the plan developed by the cessive interest, and the recruitment of the GCC countries in supervising the DGCA and the various authorities operating at the airport to some local components and some indi- work of the Council and holding its prevent overcrowding keeping in line with the instructions viduals to engage in verbal arguments offi cials accountable has always been issued by the health authorities. to the disgust of individuals which pro- one of the reasons for the weakness of Moreover, over the two days the KIA is expected to witness voke hatred and divisions, in order to the Council as if it were a council of a remarkable movement of return flights to the country, after tip the balance of this or that party and elites only. the end of the Eid al-Adha holidays. not to invite the ministerial, special- He says the Arabs do not learn ❑ ❑ ❑ ized or even the summit institutions of from history. The experience of the Maghreb union failed because of Reports denied: Minister of State for Immigration and the GCC if the dispute is serious and grave to discuss the problems and try the dispute over the Moroccan Sa- KUNA photo Egyptian Affairs Abroad Nabila Makram vehemently denied The Embassy of Kuwait in China supervises the implementation of the sacrifi ce the alleged interference of her ministry in the decision of a to douse the fi res and keep them away hara, and the fate of our union will project in Gaoyuan City, Chenghai Province. company in Kuwait to terminate several Egyptian workers and from becoming weapons and conspira- not be better. The work of the Arab its supposed comments on the laws of the country, reports cies in the hands of those who do not League also remains frozen, and the Al-Qabas daily. want the good of the GCC states -- out- Organization of Islamic Cooperation Makram called on mass media and social media platforms siders and colonial forces. is just a name without any action. PADA, Nazaha join hands to verify information prior to publication, follow only the This is other than insisting through- Fakhro asks: ‘When will consciences official statements issued by the ministry, and be wary of out the life of the GCC the absence of awaken and minds awaken in Arab those keen on destroying relationships by falsely attributing a joint judicial body within the GCC countries?’ statements and then responding or commenting on such state- institutions to issue just and fraternal About a week ago, the GCC Secre- Strict steps taken to prevent ments despite the inaccuracies. She warned that spreading judgments among the regimes of the tary-General issued a decision appoint- rumors and instigating chaos are some ways of starting fourth- disputing countries. ing Shafi q Ahmad Al-Sayed Omar as generation wars. The situation has reached the point the Director-General of the GCC Joint disability certifi cates forgery The ministry also urged the social media users to obtain of disgust with the marginalization of Program Production Institution. information from its official accounts only and to verify infor- the council’s joint authorities, and vul- Of course, this institution is already KUWAIT CITY, July 24: Regarding the Dr. Al-Awadhi reiterated the authori- mation before posting their comments. gar rhetoric through offi cial media and dead and it is useless; its time has suspicion of corruption in the granting of ty’s full readiness to cooperate with ❑ ❑ ❑ social media where opportunists, those passed, its role became overdue and 2,300 disability certificates to citizens, Nazaha and to provide all lists and state- who are devoid of patriotic and national Jabs for farmers: Kuwait Ministry of Health said it would no one will follow up on its work, so the Director General of the Public ments, based on strong conviction of the feelings and sellers of conscience are ac- how can a director be appointed for a start Covid-19 vaccination of workers at farms in Abdali and tive and their services are available to Authority for the Disabled Affairs important role it plays in preserving pub- Wafra areas, part of its efforts to reach as many people as pos- dead body? (PADA) Dr. Shafiqa Al-Awadhi lic money. anyone who pays more. ❑ ❑ ❑ sible nationwide. Fakhro’s words mean the unity is announced new strict measures to pre- ❑ ❑ ❑ The ministry, in a statement Tuesday, said workers should dying a slow death putting at rest the e-mail: [email protected] vent any manipulation of medical certifi- register for vaccination in order to be eligible for the jab and cates, stressing that work is continuing to Man found dead: Personnel from the to make sure an orderly inoculation. study and filter all files, reports Al-Qabas Criminal Investigation Department (CID) It added the workers’ vaccinations would take place during daily. have found the corpse of the missing Ku- day and evening time. In an exclusive press statement, she waiti in Umm Naga (Subbiya), reports ❑ ❑ ❑ affirmed the full readiness of the author- Al-Seyassah. ity to cooperate with the Kuwait Anti- According to a security source, the se- Scouts at work: The Kuwaiti Scouts Association participat- Corruption Authority (Nazaha) to pro- curity authorities began looking for the ed in the sacrificial meat distribution project implemented by missing young man after a report was the Humanitarian Relief Society in cooperation with vide all necessary statements and data on Al-Kanadra Foundation on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, suspicions of forgery of disability certifi- fi led with the concerned authorities. Dur- reports Al-Anba daily. cates. ing the search the authorities saw the ve- Dr. Al-Awadhi said, “In 2017, the hicle of the victim and found the corpse authority studied all the files of disabled of the man. Crowding & chaos seen at people who are registered with it. After During the initial investigation, it be- coordinating with the Ministry of came clear that there were no signs of vi- Interior, it was found that there are olence or assault on the deceased person. many vaccination centers many people with registered mental and The corpse has been referred to Foren- KUWAIT CITY, July 24: Several health centers in Kuwait visual disabilities who have driving sics department to fi nd out the circum- witnessed crowding and chaos after a message was posted on licenses, which puts them and the lives stances of the death. the social media that people who are not yet vaccinated can of others at risk. As a result, the author- ❑ ❑ ❑ receive their dose from 7:00 to 9 pm. However, the Ministry ity summoned those registered in the of Health in issuing a denial said only those who have received lists referred to the medical committees Drugs kill Pakistani: An unidentifi ed the message for vaccination will be entertained, reports Al- to re-evaluate them. Based on the results Pakistani died allegedly from an over- Seyassah daily. of these committees, those who did not dose of drugs, reports Al-Seyassah daily. In the same context, a video clip showed crowding and cha- According to security sources the man, os at the Farwaniya Hospital including those who had received fall under the concept of disability were messages to receive the vaccine. excluded, and those who were not eli- who is believed to be in his 40s, died in Hawalli. His corpse has been referred to Meanwhile, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, gible were canceled and payment was Dr. Mustafa Redha, said the aim of the ministry is to vaccinate stopped in order to preserve public Forensics. between 70 to 75 percent of the total population against the money and prevent waste.” When police received a report that an coronavirus, to achieve herd immunity. She highlighted that a new list of the unidentifi ed person had slumped over He added this depends on the quantities of vaccines supplied cases found to have a visual and intel- the steering wheel and did not respond to by the producing companies, pointing out that the vaccination lectual disability, based on the reports of passersby who tried to talk to him, police is for age groups between 12 and 15 years and that the process the medical committees after the reas- and paramedics rushed to the spot and is gradual. Dr Redha thanked the medical and support staff sessment was sent back to the Ministry of discovered the man was dead. for their efforts to make the national vaccination campaign a Interior, which dealt with them according Police also found in the car a narcotic success, and to assist the Ministry of Health in combating the to its procedures and regulations. substance and tools for drug use. Corona pandemic. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021 LOCAL 4

His Highness receives call from Saudi Prince Turki, GCC chief Amir greatly appreciates citizens, residents for Eid greetings KUWAIT CITY, July 24, phone call from Saudi Minister of Arab nations. (KUNA): His Highness the Amir State and Cabinet member Prince His Highness the Amir, mean- HH the Crown Prince, PM send greetings Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- Turki bin Mohamad bin Fahad Al while, thanked Prince Turki for Jaber Al-Sabah, on Thursday, ex- Saud. this good initiative, which em- pressed his great appreciation for During the call, the Saudi min- bodies the bonds of relations be- all citizens and residents of Ku- ister reassured about His High- tween the two countries and their HH Amir congratulates Belgium on National Day wait for their Eid Al-Adha greet- ness the Amir’s health, wishing peoples. KUWAIT CITY, July 24, (KUNA): ry cable to King Philippe of Belgium, Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness ings. him everlasting well-being, and Also, His Highness the Amir re- His Highness the Amir Sheikh on his country’s National Day. the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah His Highness the Amir ex- Kuwait further progress and pros- ceived a greeting marking Eid Al- Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah His Highness the Crown Prince Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent pressed hope for the happy occa- perity under his wise leadership. Adha occasion from Gulf Coop- on Wednesday sent a congratulato- Sheikh Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al- similar cables. sion to recur with further blessing In addition, the minister con- eration Council (GCC) Secretary and development for Kuwait and gratulated His Highness the Amir General Nayef Al-Hajraf. its people. on Eid al-Adha, wishing happy re- His Highness the Amir received Islamic occasion, praying to Allah and wellness, and further progress thanked Al-Hajraf for his kind Meanwhile, His Highness the turns of this joyful occasion to the a telephone call from GCC chief Almighty to bestow His Highness and prosperity to Kuwait. gesture and sentiments, wishing Amir received on Monday a tele- two peoples, and both Muslim and also expressed best wishes on this the Amir with everlasting health In turn, His Highness the Amir him good health and prosperity.

Expresses solidarity over devastating fl oods ‘Stagnation’ of travel market HH Amir condoles Chinese president KUWAIT CITY, July 24, (KUNA): His Meshaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al- as well as His Highness the Prime Min- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah sent a cable ister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al- boosts sheep sales in Kuwait of condolences to Chinese President Xi Sabah sent similar cables to President Xi. Jinping over victims of fl oods caused by Kuwait expressed its sympathy and heavy rain. solidarity with China over the devastat- His Highness the Amir wished speedy ing fl oods that struck Zhengzhou, killing Local and Saudi sheep in demand recovery for the injured, and that China and displacing dozens of people in the overcomes impacts of this natural disaster. central city, the foreign ministry said on By Najeh Bilal er and some say this is linked to the stagnation of the His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Wednesday. Al-Seyassah Staff ‘travel market’ and the forced need for many citizens KUWAIT CITY, July 24: The prices of sheep on the and residents to spend the Eid holiday inside Kuwait. eve of Eid al-Adha varied from one market to anoth- When the Al-Seyassah daily paid a visit to the Al-Rai Sheep Mar- ket next to the Iranian furni- ture market, and monitored the sheep market movement discovered what it called a fl uctuation in prices unlike the last year. The consumers expressed their satisfaction in terms of prices and the sellers ensured that the prices are affordable for every- one, pointing to big discounts for those who bought more than one sacrifice animal. Satisfaction Kuwaiti Abdul Salam Al-Sha’alan expressed his satis- faction with the prices this sea- son, indicating that the difference is noticeable between this and last year prices. Al-Sha’alan said he bought a A salesman carrying a sheep for his customer. local sheep for 120 dinars and said he bought a similar sheep last year for the same price, Engineers training program concludes which indicates the corona pan- demic did not affect livestock sales in any way. Another Kuwaiti, who identi- Move to empower women & qualify Photos by Mohammad Morsi fied himself as Bu Abdullah said the price of sheep on the Day of Sheep being sold for the sacrifi cial offerings during the Eid Al-Adha festival. Arafat decreased by 20 dinars. them to work in private sector: PYA He added the local Kuwaiti sheep was the best buy, fol- KUWAIT CITY, July 24, (KUNA): Ku- ‘New domestic workers excluded from Cabinet’s decision’ lowed by the Saudi and then the wait’s Public Youth Authority (PYA) Jordanian, while only a few concluded Saturday the fourth edition of opted for the Australian sheep the training program for female engineers Several reasons for Kuwaiti market to suffer for sacrifice. aims to empower women and qualify Outside the market, the daily them to work in the private sector. met Kuwaiti Abu Muhammad, In a press release upon the occa- from ‘severe shortage’ of domestic workers who had come to the market to sion, the Director General of (PYA) Dr sell what he called his ‘home- KUWAIT CITY, July 24: The Ku- continuation of these workers resort- the recruitment of domestic workers grown’ sheep and he said he sold Mishal Al-Rubaie said that part of the waiti market is still suffering from se- ing to their embassies is a serious of- assured him that the new domestic each animal for 100 dinars and female graduates would be employed in vere shortage of domestic workers for fense to the sovereignty of the State workers are excluded from the Cabi- advised citizens to raise sheep in LIMAK. several reasons; on top of which is the and proves the government’s inabil- net’s decision to stop direct commer- the compounds of their homes or Some of the graduates obtained the reluctance of these workers to come ity to fi nd radical solutions to their cial fl ights between Kuwait and India, on the roofs of the houses or in Technology and Business Education to Kuwait as they prefer the neighbor- problems. He affi rmed that “there reports Al-Jarida daily. their gardens. Council (BTEC) certifi cate for manage- ing countries, reports Al-Jarida daily. is a big problem looming on the ho- Al-Dakhnan pointed out that simi- Sheep seller, Muhammad ment and leadership, a certifi cate from the Chairman of the voluntary com- rizon — the refusal of employers to lar decisions issued earlier excluded Mulla, said this year’s prices are Lifelong Learning Center (BULLC) from mittee tasked to study the fi le of do- book tickets for their workers who the new domestic workers and those not high, and that the local sheep Bogazici University and a fi eld training mestic workers Bassam Al-Shammari want to return to their countries once who accompanied their employers is sold at a price ranging from certifi cate, he added. Dr Mishal Al-Rubaie said the Kuwaiti market has become the employment contract ends due to abroad, but the abovementioned de- 120 to 160 dinars, the Saudi price The program focused on enhancing a ‘repellent’ for these workers who the high ticket costs or failure to pro- cision was issued suddenly; hence, is approximately the same, and the leadership and management skills in 2025) approved by the Council pf Min- continue to suffer and do not feel safe vide an alternative worker. This could the need for confi rmation that such the Jordanian and Australian the fi eld of engineering to help the newly here due to the failure of the con- make domestic workers more reluc- decision does not apply to domestic sheep fetched between 80 and isters. cerned government agencies to play tant to come to Kuwait.” workers. He warned that the domestic 100 dinars, and explained the graduates to succeed in their future ca- He stated that the program targeted their role in providing protection for Meanwhile, Chairman of Kuwait labor market will suffer if the decision prices varied according to the reer, Al-Rubaie noted. newly graduated Kuwaiti female engi- domestic workers and settle their dis- Union of Domestic Labor Offi ces covers domestic workers, as it could weight of the sheep, then again The program comes in the framework neers from various disciplines, which is putes with employers. (KUDLO) Khaled Al-Dakhnan said lead to the cancellation of thousands the prices varied from one trader of the (Worker Makers) project listed presented by (LIMAK) and supervised by Al-Shammari stressed that the the director of Balsalama platform for of new domestic labor visas. to another. within the states development plan (2021- the Public Authority for Youth. Embassy of India in Kuwait to celebrate NEET Day on July 27 KUWAIT CITY, July 24: The Embassy of India in Kuwait will celebrate the ‘NEET Day Kuwait’ on July 27 with a spe- cial event at 6 pm under the initiative of Indian Professionals Network (IPN). All Indians in Kuwait including students, parents and teachers and all friends of India in Kuwait are invited to join the hybrid virtual event in strict compliance with the Covid-19 guidelines and protocol, says a press re- lease issued by the embassy. The event is held to celebrate the announcement on July 13, 2021, by India’s Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan the establishment of National Eligibility-cum- Entrance Test (NEET) examination center in Kuwait. The historic announcement makes Kuwait the fi rst NEET center outside India. This momentous decision has evoked huge response from the Indian community in Kuwait with thou- sands of students and their parents expressing sincere grati- tude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pradhan for this decision. All are invited to join the virtual event using the follow- ing details: Event link: https://zoom.us/j/92897166788; Meeting ID: 928 9716 6788 The event will also be telecast live on all the social media handles of the embassy. Screen allowance to few employees KUWAIT CITY, July 24: Undersecretary of the Ministry of Communications, Eng Kholoud Shehab, has issued a de- cision to limit the payment of screen allowance to ministry employees regardless of their job, reports Al-Anba daily. The decision has reduced the number of those receiving the allowance from 200 employees to just 17. Informed sources told the daily, following this decision a number of employees who are deprived of the allowance went to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to inquire about the legality and validity of implementing the deci- sion which they feel violates the CSC Resolution No. (28) of 2006 according to which ‘screen’ allowance was given to Kuwaitis in government institutions throughout offi cial working hours due to the nature of their work. The resolution stipulated 30 dinars screen allowance for employees directly serving the public and 20 dinars for those who do not come directly in contact with the public those working in the secretarial and printing fi eld it is 15 dinars per month and the allowance is stopped in case the employee is transferred or delegated to another job. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021 LOCAL 5

‘Kuwait at the UN Security Council... Outstanding Contributions and Brave Initiatives’ Ambassador Al-Otaibi issues book on Kuwait’s diplomacy at UNSC

NEW YORK, July 24, (KUNA): A Security Council during the 2018- Council in 2018-2019 period aimed defending the Arab issues topped oritized defending the Arab issues book written by Kuwait’s Permanent 2019 period. at documenting this bright period of with the Palestinian cause, improv- and highlighting the stance at the Representative to the UN Ambassa- The book themed “Kuwait at the the country diplomacy’s path. ing the Council’s working methods Council as we represented the Arab dor Mansour Al-Otaibi has recently UN Security Council... Outstanding In an interview with KUNA on and adopting humanitarian issues as Group,” he said. been issued on the country’s diplo- Contributions and Brave Initiatives” during the week, Al-Otaibi said the well as strengthening preventive di- During the 2018-2019 period, Ku- macy and continuations at the UN during Kuwait’s membership at the issuance of the book on Kuwait’s ex- plomacy, mediation, and preventing wait had big responsibilities, he said, periment at the UN Security Council confl icts and solving them peace- adding that they managed to refl ect is not the fi rst time and will not be fully, he told KUNA. the Arab stances and meet many of the last one for any ambassador who He noted that the aim of his book their concerns at the Council, the Other Voices writes about his experiment. is to document these key periods in ambassador made clear. He recalled Ambassador Abdullah Kuwait’s political history within its Kuwait accomplished promises Beshara’s experiment when he rep- relations with the UN. and priorities by defending the resented Kuwait during 1978-1979. Kuwait’s membership at the UN Arab issues, mainly the Palestinian Al-Otaibi stressed the importance Security Council over two years cause, which is the fi rst main one, of highlighting Kuwait’s role and came at a diffi cult period during he noted. Tweeting is like walking contributions to the Council’s work which the Arab world, in particular, In addition, the State of Kuwait during the country’s membership, in KUNA photo has been suffering instability and launched initiatives and bills on this addition to its initiatives. Cover of the book ‘Kuwait at the violence, he pointed out. cause, he said, pointing to big efforts in a minefi eld in Kuwait During its membership, Kuwait UN Security Council ... Outstanding “We had nine fi les on the Arab made by the country on the Arabs’ worked on some priorities, including Contributions and Brave Initiatives’. countries at the Council. We pri- issues. By Attorney Dr. Fawaz types of media, this may lead to two Alkhateeb years of imprisonment. Secondly, tweeting or posting any rumours Visiting assistant professor about Kuwait that lack accuracy and at Kilaw credibility may also lead to impris- he more you tweet and post on onment of not less than three years. Thirdly, tweeting or posting content Kuwaiti Embassy in Delhi hands Tsocial media in Kuwait and the Middle East, the more you may that may harm the relations of Ku- face crucial criminal procedures and wait and other countries, such as crit- probably end up in prison, because icizing GCC policies may also lead of the notion of silencing critical to imprisonment. Fourthly, tweeting voices which is applied worryingly. or posting what might be considered Today, free speech is not a guar- as a violation of public morals and out meat in several India states anteed global right in all societies ethics could lead to imprisonment of but rather it is a privilege to some up to two years too. Fifthly, the in- in certain countries. There are some fringement of the dignity of persons, serious struggles for freedom of ex- their private lives, or their religious Kuwait doles out alms to Syrian refugees on Eid pression in our region, and it is too beliefs, these are also crimes in the early to think that such rights may Kuwaiti Laws! flourish soon. The importance of Such laws are not only problem- NEW DELHI, July 24, speech should be understood as an atic, but also they create awkward extension to the freedom of thought, situations. For instance, one can (KUNA): Kuwait Embassy not as a threat. Rethinking of regula- post blunt tweet criticizing Trump in New Delhi announced tory responses towards the freedom or Biden heavily in the US under the on Friday that it has dis- of expression principle must be con- free speech right which is one of the sidered. basic amendments of the US society. tributed sacrificial meat to A friend of mine asked me earlier However, if these tweets were post- several poor families across this week, why would people be in ed in Kuwait, one would be jailed several Indian states. a grave danger when they tweet in because of the numerous pre-men- tioned laws. Enforcing laws should In a statement to KUNA, the Kuwait? I replied, to understand Embassy in India said that the meat the threats behind the use of social not be politicized, as such a practice media in Kuwait, you should under- reflects a parochial political attitude distribution was in the framework stand how the governmental bodies that led some Kuwaitis to emigrate. of the annual sacrifi ce project un- and legisla- In Criminology, the notion of der the supervision of the General tions impact crime is founded on the seriousness Secretariat of Endowments, with a the right of of the conduct in the eyes of society, generous donation from benevo- expression. yet the practical story tells us oth- lent people of Kuwait. We have erwise. In Kuwait and the Middle The statement said that the Embassy a special East, the seriousness of the crime carried out the distribution of meats in prosecution is more related to the views of the governments and the sensitivity of cooperation with a number of Indian body, ‘Pub- charitable societies and a large number licity, Infor- the authorities. This means that the mation and gravity of the acts and whether they of families in different Indian states Publication are offences or not are more related who got the benefit thanked and ex- Affairs Pros- to what the governments ponder pressed their gratitude to the Kuwaiti ecution’ (PI- Alkhateeb rather than what the society feels and people and the leadership. PAP), which values, which is a vexing problem The support from Kuwait has investigates and prosecutes social in democratic or semi-democratic come at a time many people in India countries such as the State of Ku- are suffering due to the COVID-19 Kuwait’s Islamic endowments body, known as Awqaf, distributes sacrificial meat to Syrian refugees in Jordan and media users in the case of violating Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. one of seven different laws: wait. situation, Abdulaziz Al-A’athami, 1- Law no. 3/2006 regarding pub- Charged Secretary of Al-Ghazali Charitable lications and publishing. Society, one of the five Indian chari- 2- Law no. 61/2007 regarding This can be seen in the inci- table societies that implemented the audio-visual media dent of the Kuwaiti poet Jamal Al- project this year, expressed his ap- 3- Law no. 20/2014 regarding Sayer, who was confined after he preciation and gratitude to Kuwait, electronic transactions. was charged with crimes related to expression-acts in social media. its people and charitable institutions 4- Law no. 37/2014 establishing for continuing to provide support to the Communications and Informa- The public were against his pre-trial tion Technology Regulatory Author- detention, and many members of needy families. ity. the parliament, even conservatives, The meat was distributed in New 5- Law no. 63/2015 regarding refused the prosecution detention Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West combating information technology stating that the recent law number Bengal and Assam. crimes. 1/2021 states that pre-trial deten- Humanitarian 6- Law no. 8/2016 regulating tion does not apply to acts related to electronic media. cases of expression. Nevertheless, This annual project is being car- 7- Law no. 22/2016 regarding the public prosecution disregarded ried out in various countries of the copyright and related rights. the aforementioned law and detained world, and emphasizes the humani- These laws include broadly com- the poet on the ground that the right tarian role of Kuwait and its people, plex and ambiguous language,in ad- of free speech is not a crime,because as well as embodying the virtues of dition to sceptical vocabulary which the seven laws criminalize certain giving and sharing. is quite murky as it appears in hun- types of behaviour that fall outside Eslewehere, Kuwait’s Embassy in dreds of articles criminalizing acts the scope of freedom of expression. Bosnia and Herzegovina announced related to expressions.These laws Such a dilemma suggests that the parliament must amend the seven on Saturday distributing sacrificed state punishments of fines and/or animals’ meat during Al-Adha Eid imprisonment sentences that vary mentioned laws or better yet remove them, or at least,get rid of the impris- to 500 families in various parts of between (1 year to 15 years!). In the the country. last three-year, PIPAP prosecuted onment punishments to eliminate around 9000cases related to social the risks of being jailed because of Kuwait’s Charge d’Affairs in Sa- media and conventional media pub- acts related to expression. I propose rajevo Hamad Bin Edan said in re- lications: which indicates a grave further to reconsider the priority of marks to KUNA that this project is KUNA photos over legislation. fighting more serious crimes such carried out in cooperation with the Kuwait International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) distributes sacrificial meat to thousands of Muslim The most common social media- as corruption and hate crimes. Un- General Secretariat of Awqaf, and refugees in Malaysia. related crimes that I have encoun- til then, let us revise our tweets and as part of the humanitarian work Ku- tered as an attorney in the previous posts cautiously as tweeting is like wait conducts via its various charity Malaysian Medical Relief Society countries around the world based on the Hashemite Kingdom Aziz Al- twelve years can be divided into five stepping into a swamp. It is like institutions. (MERCY). a strategic plan for the year 2020- Daihani told KUNA. categories. First, the act of offend- walking in a minefield. He stressed on Kuwait’s keenness The Secretary-General of (MER- 2024, which focuses on building and In the West Bank and the Gaza ing or defaming a person through all [email protected] on celebrating this annual tradition, CY) Professor Hosni Ahmed said empowering people.(end) Strip, Palestinian families number- and to expand the frame of such to KUNA that this project was fully ing in the thousands were also the projects, to cover more families in funded by IICO, praising their chari- Also: beneficiaries of the gracious endeav- need all over the country. table efforts, Kuwait’s leadership AMMAN: Kuwait’s Islamic endow- or worth USD 100,000, the Kuwaiti TGS hosts Arab Times’ Senior Editor Kuwait’s embassies in various and its people in addition to IICO ments body, known as Awqaf, dis- diplomat added. countries throughout the world dis- staff and workers. tributed on Wednesday sacrificial He hailed the “timely nature” of THE Guest Show (TGS) on Radio the prosaic world of journalism. tributed scarified meat to poor fami- The project helped 1,666 people, meat to Syrian refugees in Jordan the initiative, which comes months Kuwait is excited to present our first On our Guest Show, Marlon will and Palestinians in the West Bank Filipino guest — Marlon Aquino speak of his life as the child of ex- lies. raising the total of 6,664 individuals after Palestinian families were “vic- Malinao. pat parents in the Philippines, his In Malaysia, Kuwait International from Yemen, Palestine, and Syria and Gaza as part of an annual en- timized” by the latest round of “Is- Senior Editor at the Arab Times, growing up years, his journey with Islamic Charitable Organization as well as Somali communities and deavor to usher in the Muslim Eid raeli aggression,” he said. Kuwait’s leading English daily, Mar- the Arab Times including the men- (IICO) distributed, Thursday, sacri- Rohingya refugees in Malaysia, he holiday. The recipients of the Kuwaiti aid lon is a man of many different parts toring and learning, the different ficial meat to thousands of Muslim added. The three-day initiative, held in thanked the country for the kind ges- — each of them exceptional. Cho- and interesting life path he chose refugees in Malaysia within its proj- Meanwhile, “Your sacrifices conjunction with a local charity, also ture, which started a day earlier in a sen by Illustrado magazine as one for himself — from optometry to ect slogan called “Your sacrifices are joy for them” project is one of targets needy communities across collaborative effort between the Ku- of 100 Most Influential Filipinos in journalism to a creative being. And are joy for them” with cooperation many projects of the IICO and in 28 Amman, Kuwait’s ambassador to waiti and Jordanian Red Crescents. the Gulf, Marlon belongs to many how he is the sum of it all. different worlds, one of them being Tune in this coming Thursday. Second medical shipment to Tunisia Nepalese offi cial hails Kuwait’s medical aid NEW DELHI, July 24, (KUNA): Kuwait’s CO- world. VID-19 humanitarian aid efforts and support for Nepal were praised on Thursday. Also: Nepal’s Ministry of Health Secretary Laxman TUNIS: A Kuwaiti military plane loaded by Aryal expressed his gratitude and appreciation to medical supplies arrived in Tunisia on Tuesday Kuwait for the medical aid offered to his country through an air bridge to help the fellow Arab in the wake of the pandemic. country to combat the spread of the coronavirus Speaking to KUNA, Aryal stated that the Ku- (COVID-19). wait-Nepal relations are strong and that this assis- The freight including 20 tons of oxygen and tance exemplifies these “steadfast ties.” 400 oxygen cylinders arrived in Tunisia, which is Similarly, he thanked Kuwait Red Crescent in dire need of such supplies to combat the novel Society for its response efforts targetting the Hi- coronavirus, Kuwait’s Ambassador to Tunisia malayan nation. Ali Al-Dhafairi said in a press statement. For his part, Kuwait Ambassador to India Jas- This shipment comes within the framework of sem Al-Najem, also tasked with Nepal, highlight- the air bridge, which is fruits of cooperation be- ed Kuwait’s keenness to alleviate the suffering of tween the two leaderships, he added. Nepalese people during the health crisis they are The ambassador thanked the Kuwaiti forces, going through due to the pandemic. and Foreign Minister and Minister of State for The ambassador said Nepalese authorities re- Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al- ceived medical equipment and supplies, including Mohammad Al-Sabah for keenness on aiding ventilators. Tunisia in these tough conditions. This aid comes within the humanitarian Meanwhile, Tunisia’s Foreign Minister Oth- directives of His Highness the Amir Sheikh man Jerandi lauded Kuwait’s aid, saying that Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, which the assistance will be distributed to hospitals, in The Guest Show poster have also targeted other nations around the coordination with the Kuwaiti Embassy.

Twitter posts stronger-than-expected Q2 results

Twitter posted stronger-than- Revenue jumped 74% to and $1.3 billion for the cur- nature of the relationship be- expected earnings for the $1.19 billion from $683.4 mil- rent quarter. Analysts are tween the author of a tweet This file photo shows a second quarter thanks to lion, surpassing Wall Street’s forecasting $1.17 billion. and replier, including how of- Twitter app icon on a mobile growing advertising demand expectations. Ad revenue in The number of daily users ten they interact. phone in Philadelphia. Twitter across all geographic regions the U.S. alone nearly dou- increased 11% to 206 million “We’ve also improved our posted stronger-than-expect- and types of ad products. bled. from a year earlier, in line ability to more accurately de- ed earnings for the second The San Francisco-based Analysts, on average, with expectations. tect strong language, includ- quarter thanks to growing company earned $65.6 mil- were expecting of 7 cents per Twitter said it continues to ing profanity, and created advertising demand across all lion, or 8 cents per share, in share and revenue of $1.07 work on making conversa- easier ways for people to geographic regions and types of ad products. (AP) the April-June quarter. That’s billion, according to a poll by tions on its platform “health- let us know if they found the up from a loss of $1.38 bil- FactSet. ier.” prompt helpful or relevant,” lion, or $1.75 per share, a Twitter said it expects rev- It said that among steps, the company said in a letter year earlier. enue between $1.22 billion its systems now consider the to shareholders. (AP)

Market Movements 23-07-2021 Change Closing pts Change Closing pts SAUDI - Tadawul +16.44 10,794.51 UAE - DFM -0.27 2,744.01 JAPAN - Nikkei +159.84 27,548.00 PHILIPPINES - All Shares -55.88 6,520.74 UK - FTSE 100 +59.28 7,027.58 PAKISTAN - KSE 100 -80.19 47,793.07 EUROPE - Euro Stoxx 50 +50.05 4,109.10 SINGAPORE - Straits Times STI -2.21 3,157.05 EGYPT - EGX 30 +85.57 10,646.85 INDIA - Sensex +138.59 52,975.80 Business Total debt subject to the limit currently stands at $28.4 trillion Yellen outlines to Congress emergency measures on debt limit WASHINGTON, July 24, (AP): Trea- off between Republicans in Congress have to approve before Oct. 1 to pre- funds that have been disinvested sury Secretary Janet Yellen told Con- and the Obama administration in 2011, vent a government shutdown that day. from various government accounts gress on Friday that she will start tak- when the Standard & Poor’s credit rat- The regular spending bills fi nancing are replaced. ing emergency measures next week to ing agency downgraded its rating on a federal agencies for the fi scal year that Yellen said the unusual circum- keep the government from an unprec- portion of U.S. debt. begins Oct. 1 are unlikely to have been stances surrounding the government’s edented default on the national debt, “That is why no president or Trea- enacted by then. response to the coronavirus pandemic warning that a default would cause sury secretary of either party has ever That tactic would dare Republicans made it hard to predict when she will “irreparable harm to the U.S. economy countenanced even the suggestion of a to block a bill that, if rejected, could run out of maneuvering room. She said and the livelihoods of all Americans.” default on any obligation of the United result in both a federal shutdown and that under some scenarios, her ability In a letter to House and Senate lead- States,” Yellen wrote. a default. Most politicians would to keep borrowing might come to an ers, Yellen said her actions will buy However, Senate Minority Leader be averse to being blamed for such end soon after Congress returns from time until Congress can pass legisla- Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., threatened events, especially heading into an elec- its August recess. tion to either raise the debt limit or this week that all Republican senators tion year. She said a particular challenge will suspend it again for a period of time. would vote against extending govern- Responding to McConnell’s com- come on Oct. 1, when government The debt limit has been suspended ment borrowing authority. He cited ments this week, Senate Major- resources are expected to decline for the past two years but will go back objections to President Joe Biden’s ity Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., by about $150 billion due to large into effect on July 31. The total debt plans for boosting domestic spending called them “shameless, cynical and mandatory payments, including a re- subject to the limit currently stands at and raising taxes on the rich. totally political.” quired investment for Department of $28.4 trillion. If that occurred, Senate Democrats Yellen’s reference to the use of Defense-related retirement and health Yellen said her fi rst move on July would lack the 10 GOP supporters “extraordinary measures” to allow the care support. 30 will be to suspend the sale of state In this file photo, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen prepares to speak they’d need to overcome a Republi- government to keep borrowing to meet White House Press Secretary Jen and local government securities, which during a meeting of eurogroup finance ministers at the European Council can fi libuster, or delaying tactics, and its debt service obligations and make Psaki said Friday that the U.S. govern- are used by some local jurisdictions to building in Brussels. Yellen told Congress on Friday, July 23, that she will move such language through the 50-50 payments on such benefi ts as Social ment has never allowed a debt default, meet some of their fi nancing needs but start taking emergency measures next week to keep the government from Senate with 60 votes. Security refers to a variety of book- which she said would be a “catastroph- increase the level of debt held by the an unprecedented default on the national debt. (AP) Democrats haven’t yet decided on a keeping maneuvers past Treasury sec- ic event.” federal government. legislative strategy to deal with a debt- retaries have used. “We expect Congress to act prompt- If Congress has not acted to either sures in order to prevent the United the threat of a debt default - something limit impasse. Those include disinvesting funds ly to raise or suspend” the debt limit raise the debt limit or suspend it by States from defaulting on its obliga- the United States has never done - trig- But Yellen’s letter could steer them from accounts that pay pension ben- and “protect the full faith and credit of Aug. 2, Yellen said she will be taking tions.” gered the country’s fi rst-ever credit toward putting a provision extending efits to government workers. Once the United States,” Psaki told report- “certain additional extraordinary mea- In her letter, Yellen noted that even downgrade. That came during a stand- the debt limit into a bill Congress will the debt ceiling is dealt with, the ers. Air travel picks up Southwest and American ECB says low rates to post 2nd quarter profits DALLAS, July 24, (AP): Ameri- fast rebound in travel. can Airlines and Southwest Airlines Southwest is recalling some work- both posted second-quarter profi ts on ers from leaves earlier than sched- Thursday thanks to generous federal uled. American recently announced pandemic relief that covers most of plans to bulk up staffi ng by recalling their labor costs. 3,300 fl ight attendants from leave later stay until job is done The reports on Thursday underscored this year and hiring 800 more by next the progress that airlines are making in spring. It plans to hire 350 pilots this rebuilding after the coronavirus crushed year and more than 1,000 next year. air travel - and how much farther they Excluding federal funds and other must go to fully recover. special items, American reported a American eked out a second-quarter second-quarter adjusted loss of $1.1 profi t of $19 million due to nearly $1.5 billion. That is American’s smallest billion in taxpayer support. Southwest adjusted loss in any quarter since 2019, reported a profi t of $348 million, in- and at $1.69 per share it was less than cluding $724 million in federal help. the $2.03 per share loss forecast by an- Southwest said it made money in alysts, according to a FactSet survey. June even without the government aid Fort Worth, Texas-based American’s and hopes to be profi table by any mea- revenue jumped more than four-fold sure in the third and fourth quarters if from a year ago. CEO Doug Parker said the pandemic doesn’t get worse. American carried fi ve times as many pas- Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said sengers as it did in the same stretch of third-quarter travel bookings are “very 2020. Still, revenue was down 37% from strong,” and he sees no impact yet the same quarter in 2019. from rising coronavirus cases tied to Once summer ends, airlines will the fast-spreading delta variant. need to lure back high-paying corpo- “We are very well prepared to manage rate travelers if they are to keep boost- and muddle our way through if the delta ing their revenue. Carriers say the road variant affects our business,” he added. warriors are starting to return. American and Southwest - like Delta American said revenue from domes- and United in the past week - reported tic business travel has been growing by revenue far above 2020 levels. That re- up to 10 percentage points a month and fl ects the rising number of people taking now stands around 45% of 2019 fi g- fl ights in the U.S. - now about 2 million ures. Chief Revenue Offi cer Vasu Raja a day, or about 80% of pre-pandemic predicted a bump in corporate sales in levels. Domestic leisure travel is roughly October, a few weeks after many of- back to normal, but business and interna- fi ces are due to reopen. tional travelers are still mostly absent. Southwest’s profi t reversed a loss As passengers stream back, fl ight of $915 million in the second quarter delays have soared. The problems of 2020. Excluding federal relief and have been greatest at Southwest and other special items, the Dallas-based American, which have struggled with airline said it would have lost $206 hundreds of delayed fl ights a day. million or 35 cents per share - more Southwest said 33% of its fl ights in than analysts’ prediction of a loss of July have arrived at least 15 minutes 21 cents per share. behind schedule, the federal govern- Southwest said it hopes to be prof- ment’s defi nition of a late fl ight. That’s itable in the third and fourth quarters up from 19% in May, when Southwest even excluding federal pandemic aid had the second-worst record in the in- but cautioned that the pandemic could dustry. The airline said its operation upset current booking trends. Airline has been slowed by technology issues stocks have gyrated recently on con- in June, summer thunderstorms, and cern that COVID-19 variants and ris- the prevalence of leisure travelers with ing infection cases could hinder travel. more bags than normal. Revenue quadrupled from a year “We are still offering a decent experi- ago to $4.01 billion but remained 32% ence. It’s not what we want because it’s lower than the same quarter in 2019. taking (passengers) a little bit longer to Alaska Airlines, the nation’s fi fth-larg- In this file photo, a man walks past the Euro sculpture in Frankfurt, Germany. Facing unease over the spread of a more-contagious variant of the coro- get to the destination,” said Chief Oper- est carrier, said it earned $397 million in navirus, the European Central Bank (ECB) said Thursday July 22, 2021, it would maintain its stimulus in the form of ultra-low interest rates until inflation ating Offi cer Mike Van de Ven. He said the second quarter. Excluding $503 mil- ‘durably’ reaches its 2% target. (AP) delays should decline as the airline adds lion in federal aid and other items, Alaska fl ights and summer storms abate. lost $38 million, or 30 cents per share, on U.S. airlines persuaded tens of thou- revenue of $1.53 billion. Bank leaves key rates and stimulus programs unchanged sands of employees to quit or take Shares of Southwest Airlines Co. long-term leaves of absence last year closed down 3.5% while American to help the companies avoid fi nancial Airlines Group Inc. dipped 1.1%. FRANKFURT, Germany, July 24, The strategy abandoned the bank’s old infla- ing short-term rates are at record lows. It lends ruin. Now they are scrambling to hire Alaska Air Group Inc. bucked the (AP): Facing unease over the spread tion target of “close to but below” 2% in favor of to private-sector banks at zero percent, and takes workers to keep up with a surprisingly trend and rose 0.7%. a “symmetric” 2% target that allows for extended overnight deposits from them at minus 0.5%, in of a more-contagious variant of the stimulus in times of trouble - even if that means effect taxing banks for holding onto money instead coronavirus, the European Central briefly overshooting the inflation target. of lending it. Bank said it would maintain its stim- Annual inflation was 1.9% in June, but that Right now concerns in Europe focus on the figure is not the whole story. The ECB says it is spread of the Delta variant, which has seen case ulus in the form of ultra-low interest boosted by temporary factors such as higher fuel numbers rise sharply in a number of countries. rates until inflation “durably” reach- prices. Core inflation, which leaves out volatile Case numbers are low but rising in Germany, the es its 2% target. food and fuel, was only 0.9% and the ECB has eurozone’s biggest economy. The seven-day case consistently fallen short of its target in recent rate has doubled in just 12 days; 48% of the popu- The monetary authority for the 19 countries years. ECB Lagarde said that inflation remains lation has been fully vaccinated but the pace of that use the euro said it would not back off its “well below our target.” vaccination has slowed. efforts to support the economy even if that re- The bank otherwise left its key rates and stimu- Economists say the fact that more people are sulted in a “transitory” period of inflation mod- lus programs unchanged. now vaccinated may blunt the economic impact of erately above target. The bank is purchasing 1.85 trillion euros in the Delta variant. But it could slow the recovery if ECB President Christine Lagarde underlined government and corporate bonds through at least it leads to unexpected new restrictions and makes the bank’s determination to persist with support- March 2022 to help get the eurozone economy consumers more cautious. The European Union’s ive policy. She said that the recovery “is on track” through the disruption caused by the pandemic. executive commission forecasts growth of 4.8% but warned that the more-contagious Delta variant The purchases pump newly created money into this year after a plunge of 6.5% last year during American Airlines passenger jets prepare for departure, Wednesday, July of the coronavirus “continues to cast a shadow.” the economy and help keep longer-term borrowing the worst of the lockdowns. 21, 2021, near a terminal at Boston Logan International Airport, in Boston. The bank’s policy meeting Thursday was the rates low. The idea is to make sure credit is easily French Prime Minister Jean Castex said American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) on Thursday, July 22 reported second- first to employ the bank’s new monetary policy available so companies can get the financing they Wednesday that his country was facing a “fourth quarter net income of $19 million, after reporting a loss in the same period strategy that analysts say will permit the bank to need to keep going. wave” of the pandemic with cases rising sharply a year earlier. (AP) employ stimulus for longer periods. The bank’s key interest rate benchmarks affect- among unvaccinated people. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021 BUSINESS 9

Toyota adds ‘kei’ makers to tech partnership This fi le photo shows Japan’s top automaker Toy- kei cars make up about 40% of in an online news conference. pan’s truck market. the Toyota logo on a ota is adding two companies the Japanese auto market. “Kei cars make for a practical The addition of Daihatsu dealership in Manchester, specializing in tiny “kei” cars, Fuel-effi cient kei cars, de- and sustainable lifeline for Ja- and Suzuki strengthens the N.H. In a deal announced Daihatsu and Suzuki, to a part- fi ned by their small size and pan.” partnership, and the manu- Wednesday, July 21, nership in commercial vehicles maximum 0.66 liter engine Under the tie-up, Commer- facturers may work together 2021, Japan’s top au- it set up with Hino and Isuzu size, are popular with farm- cial Japan Partnership, that in developing electric models tomaker Toyota is adding earlier this year. makers specializing in tiny ers, deliveries and retailers. was announced in March, together, the companies said. ‘kei’ cars, Daihatsu and In announcing the deal Their tiny size is a plus for Toyota, Isuzu Motors and Hino Under the latest deal, Su- Suzuki, to a partnership in Wednesday, Toyota Motor maneuvering through Japan’s Motors are working together in zuki and Daihatsu will each commercial vehicles set Corp. Chief Executive Akio tiny roads and fi tting into small electric, hydrogen, connected acquire a 10% stake in the up with Hino and Isuzu Toyoda said it will speed up ef- parking spaces. and autonomous technologies. Commercial Japan Partner- earlier this year. (AP) forts to become more ecologi- “We want to deliver better Those three automakers ship Technologies Corp. joint cal and sustainable because lives for people,” Toyoda said combined control 80% of Ja- venture. (AP) Equities rally to records on Wall Street

Dow closes above 35,000 level for the first time Japan to increase NEW YORK, July 24, (AP): its ‘green energy’ Stocks rallied to records on TOKYO, July 24, (AP): Japan aims Wall Street Friday, and the to drastically increase its renewable Dow Jones Industrial Aver- energy use and reduce fossil fuel con- age closed above the 35,000 sumption over the next decade as its pushes to meet its ambitious emissions level for the fi rst time, as reduction target, according to a draft of the market continued to a new energy plan presented Wednes- roar back from its short- day. The draft, however, maintains the lived swoon at the start of current target for nuclear energy as of- the week. fi cials remain undecided over what to The S&P 500 index climbed do with the nuclear industry, which has 44.31, or 1%, to 4,411.79 to top struggled since the 2011 Fukushima its prior all-time high, set early last power plant disaster. week. The Dow rose 238.20, or The economy and industry minis- 0.7%, to 35,061.55, and the Nasdaq try’s draft energy plan says renewa- bles should account for 36-38% of the composite gained 152.39, or 1%, to power supply in 2030, up from the cur- 14,836.99. rent target of 22-24%, and that newly All three indexes fi nished with gains introduced fuels such as hydrogen and of better than 1% for the week, com- ammonia should comprise 1%. The pletely brushing aside the sharp down- new plan slashes the use of fossil fuel turn that trimmed 1.6% off the S&P from 56% to 41%. 500 on Monday. The government updates its basic That drop was caused by worries energy plan every few years. The draft about a potentially sharp slowdown in is expected to be approved by the Cab- the economy due to a fast-spreading inet later this year. variant of the coronavirus. But the S&P The changes are meant to achieve 500 has since climbed four straight a carbon emissions reduction target days, as big companies reported better announced in April. Prime Minister profi ts than expected and as investors Yoshihide Suga has pledged that Japan once again saw any dip in stocks as will strive to reduce its emissions by merely a chance to buy low. 46% from 2012 levels, up from an ear- The economy continues to recover at lier target of 26%, to achieve carbon a torrid pace, with the question being neutrality by 2050. how much growth will slow in upcom- He said Japan would try to push ing months and years. A preliminary the reduction as high as 50% to be in report from IHS Markit on Friday in- line with the European Union. China dicated US manufacturing growth may has pledged to be carbon neutral by be unexpectedly accelerating in July, 2060. though growth in services industries Trader Robert Charmak, (center), and specialist Meric Gfeenbaum, (right), work on the fl oor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, July 23, 2021. The target for nuclear power re- looks to be slowing more than econo- Stocks rallied on Wall Street Friday and put the major indexes on track for a strong fi nish in a week that opened with a stumble. (AP) mains unchanged at 20-22%. The draft mists expected. says Japan aims to reduce its reliance The yield on the 10-year Treasury It led a widespread rally across the to report roughly 74% growth for earn- last fi ve years. stagnates. Most analysts expect growth on nuclear power as much as possible gave up some of its gain following the market, where more than 80% of the ings in the second quarter from a year American Express rose 1.3% fol- to continue moderating as the pandemic but that it will remain an important en- release of the report, but it still rose to stocks in the S&P 500 rose. Commu- earlier, according to FactSet. That lowing its quarterly profi t report, which fades and the U.S. government and Fed- ergy source. 1.27% from 1.26% late Thursday. For nications stocks led the way after Twit- would be the strongest growth since showed a surge in revenue amid in- eral Reserve ease their support. Japan also plans to continue its nu- months, it has been sending a con- ter reported results that blew past Wall the economy was exploding out of the creased customer spending at restau- In European stock markets, indexes clear fuel reprocessing cycle, in which cerning alarm about the economy as it Street’s forecasts on growing advertis- Great Recession at the end of 2009. rants, shops and entertainment venues. also rallied by roughly 1%. spent nuclear fuel is converted to plu- dropped from a perch of roughly 1.75% ing demand. It climbed 3%. Snap, the Concerns have been rising about in- On the losing end was Intel, which Asian markets were mixed on Fri- tonium, despite the failure of its Monju in late March. But outside of Monday’s parent company of social media app fl ation, which has burst higher recently. fell despite also reporting solid second- day after major indexes edged higher plutonium-burning reactor and inter- sudden swoon, the S&P 500 has mostly Snapchat, soared 23.8% after report- But companies have neverthless been quarter earnings. It dropped 5.3%. on Wall Street, preserving their gains national concerns over safeguards for continued to plod higher. ing results that were much better than able to maintain their profi ts, often by Boston Beer Co., which brews Sam- for the week. its plutonium stockpile. Staffi ng provider Robert Half Inter- expected. raising their own prices. uel Adams, sank 26% amid worries Hong Kong and Shanghai fell while The 2050 emissions-free target will national jumped 7.4% for one of Fri- Such surprises have become the norm S&P 500 businesses appear on track about fi zzling sales of hard seltzer. Sydney and Seoul advanced. Tokyo require drastic changes and likely day’s biggest gains in the S&P 500 af- this reporting season. With roughly a to say they made $124 in profi t for eve- As Wall Street looks through 2021 was closed for a holiday. prompt calls for a restart of more nu- ter it reported revenue and profi t for the quarter of all the profi t reports in from ry $1,000 in sales, according to Fact- and into next year, a key concern re- Surges in coronavirus cases around clear plants. Progress toward reducing latest quarter that topped Wall Street’s S&P 500 companies, nearly 90% have Set. That would be a slight dip from mains the potential for “stagfl ation,” the region are prompting governments Japan’s reliance on fossil fuels has expectations. It said it’s seeing a broad- topped Wall Street’s already high ex- $128 during the fi rst three months of said Jay Hatfi eld, CEO of Infrastructure to tighten pandemic restrictions that are been hindered by the prolonged clo- based, global acceleration in demand pectations for the spring. the year, but it would remain comfort- Capital Advisors. That’s when infl ation expected to slow business activity and sure of most of its nuclear plants after for its services. Companies in the index are on pace ably above the average of $108 over the continues rising while economic growth keep travel to a minimum. the Fukushima disaster in 2011.

Deal valued at £700 million Visa inks deal to acquire Currencycloud LONDON/SAN FRANCISCO, July 24, (Agencies): Visa announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Currencycloud, a global plat- UK backs Guaidó claim in form that enables banks and fintechs to provide innovative foreign exchange solutions for cross-border payments. fi ght for Venezuelan gold The acquisition builds on an existing strategic partnership between the two LONDON, July 24, (AP): The Brit- Venezuela’s National Assembly, companies and values Currencycloud ish government sought Monday to challenged Maduro’s claim to the at £700 million, inclusive of cash and prevent Venezuela’s Nicolas Ma- presidency, arguing that his 2018 retention incentives. The financial duro from gaining access to nearly election was rigged and invalid. consideration will be reduced by the $2 billion of gold held by the Bank of Guaidó says he is the country’s in- outstanding equity of Currencycloud England as the U.K. Supreme Court terim president under provisions of that Visa already owns. started hearing a case that hinges the constitution that allow the head Currencycloud’s cloud-based plat- on the question of who should be of the legislature to take power until form offers a broad set of APIs considered the Latin American na- free elections can be held. enabling banks and financial services tion’s president. Countries including the U.S. and providers to offer currency exchange Britain told the court that its rec- United Kingdom have recognized services, including real-time notifica- ognition of opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president Guaidó as president is clear and of Venezuela, although China, Rus- tions on foreign exchange transac- longstanding, and therefore he is sia and many others have not and tions, multi-currency wallets, and vir- the person authorized to decide how Maduro holds effective power within tual account management. The the gold held by Britain’s central Venezuela. Currencycloud platform supports bank should be used. The govern- The battle over the gold is being nearly 500 banking and technology ment’s statement came after a lower fought out between two competing clients with reach in over 180 coun- court said the U.K.’s recognition of governing boards of the Central tries. Guaidó was “ambiguous.” Bank of Venezuela, one appointed Currencycloud will strengthen “The U.K. government has the by Maduro and the other by Guaidó. Visa’s existing foreign exchange capa- right to decide who to recognize Maduro’s lawyers argue that he is bilities by extending them to better as the legitimate head of a foreign still president of Venezuela and that serve financial institutions, fintechs state,” the Foreign, Commonwealth the U.K. has recognized this by con- and partners while enabling new use and Development Offi ce said in a tinuing diplomatic relations with his statement. “The U.K. recognizes government. cases and payment flows. Juan Guaidó as president of Vene- Leigh Crestohl, one of the lawyers Currencycloud will accelerate the zuela and consequentially he is the representing the Maduro board, time-to-market and improve payment only individual recognized to have said the U.K. government’s posi- transparency for clients looking to the authority to act on behalf of Ven- tion threatens the attractiveness of offer flexible, digital-first, internation- ezuela as its head of state.” the City of London and the Bank of al payment services that provide better Maduro has demanded access to England as a secure place for for- visibility and control to consumers and the gold to help his cash-starved na- eign assets. businesses around the world. tion fi ght the coronavirus pandemic. “International observers to this Cross-border payments have seen But the Bank of England has refused case may be surprised by the pos- significant growth due to rising to hand it over, citing the British gov- sibility that a unilateral statement demand from businesses of all sizes to ernment’s recognition of Guaidó. of political recognition by the U.K. engage in international trade. A recent Guaidó has sought to preserve government can dispossess a for- study revealed that 43% of all small the gold stash at the Bank of Eng- eign sovereign of assets deposited land to keep it out of the hands of in London without any recourse in businesses conducted international the Maduro government, which it the English court,’’ Crestohl, a part- trade in 2020. 1 The addition of contends is illegitimate and corrupt. ner at the London-based law fi rm Currencycloud’s capabilities to Visa’s Guaidó, who was the leader of Zaiwalla & Co., said in a statement. network will widen access to innova- tive international payment products that help businesses meet their cross- we can support our clients and partners Executive Officer, Currencycloud. border needs. to further reduce the pain points of “The combination of Currencycloud’s “The acquisition of Currencycloud cross-border payments and develop fintech expertise and Visa’s network is another example of Visa executing great user experiences for their cus- will enable us to deliver greater cus- on our network of networks strategy to tomers.” tomer value to the businesses moving facilitate global money movement,” “At Currencycloud, we’ve always money across borders.” said Colleen Ostrowski, Visa’s Global strived to deliver a better tomorrow for Currencycloud will continue their Treasurer. “Consumers and businesses all, from the smallest start-up to the operations from their headquarters in increasingly expect transparency, global multi-nationals. Re-imagining London and will retain their current speed and simplicity when making or how money flows around the global management team. The transaction is receiving international payments. economy just got more exciting as we subject to regulatory approvals and With our acquisition of Currencycloud, join Visa,” said Mike Laven, Chief other customary closing conditions. Coke sales surge in Q2 as re-openings gain momentum

Coca-Cola Co.’s sales rebounded faster and Latin America. Case volumes grew 18% strong, with case volumes up 35% from the than expected as the impact of the pan- to a level that was even with 2019. Coke same period last year. Coffee sales surged Cases of demic abated. The Atlanta-based soft drink said some markets, like China, Brazil and 78% as the company’s Costa retail stores reo- Coca-Cola are giant said its revenue jumped 42% to $10.1 Nigeria, are already running ahead of 2019 pened in the United Kingdom. displayed in a billion in the April-June period. That was well demand, while others, like India, continue to Coke’s net income surged 48% to $2.6 bil- supermarket ahead of the $9.3 billion in sales that Wall be under pressure due to the pandemic. lion. Adjusted for one-time items, the compa- in New York. Street had forecast, according to analysts In North America, case volumes rose 17% ny earned 68 cents per share. Analysts had (AP) polled by FactSet. as restaurants, movie theaters, stadiums and forecast earnings per share of 56 cents. The It was a very different story than the sec- other venues reopened or dropped capacity company raised its full-year earnings forecast ond quarter of 2020, when Coke’s sales sank restrictions. Coke has historically booked half based on its results. It now expects organic 28%. Coke said sales of its trademark Coca- its revenue from such businesses, which were revenue growth of 12% to 14% in 2021 __ up Cola are now running ahead of 2019 levels crushed by the pandemic. Demand for Pow- from high single-digit growth __ and earnings thanks to growing demand in Europe, Africa erade and other sports drinks was particularly per share growth of 13% to 15%. (AP)

‘Deteriorating breadth seems to be foreshadowing a sharp slowdown in corporate profi ts’ Bad Breadth: Whiff of danger as market gains lack scope NEW YORK, July 24, (AP): Even be- fore Monday’s swoon - the worst day for stocks on Wall Street in a couple months - the market was fl ashing con- cerning signals. Chief among them were sharp moves in the bond market that indi- cated worsening expectations for eco- nomic growth and infl ation. Critics also noticed that a dwindling number of stocks was driving the broad mar- ket’s rise toward more records. From June 1 through July 16, the S&P 500 climbed nearly 3% and set more than a dozen records along the way. But during that span, 57% of stocks in the S&P 500 fell. They lost an average of roughly 7%, mirror the average gain of the stocks in the index that rose. Strategists at Morgan Stanley call the narrowing leadership in the U.S. stock market “bad breadth,” and they say it’s a sign the market’s run is mov- ing from the early days of its cycle to the middle. Banks, airlines and other industries that depend on a strong economy to thrive were among the losers as doubts crept into the market that the economy could fulfi ll investors’ lofty predic- tions. That’s in sharp contrast to the fi rst fi ve months of the year, when 87% of stocks in the S&P 500 rallied and the index rose 11.9%. It’s a concept that market watchers call “breadth,” and they say it’s a healthy sign when many stocks are lifting the market. What’s driving the broad market higher this summer are the relatively few most infl uential stocks. Apple, Microsoft and other Big Tech stocks all rallied powerfully through June and July, for example, in part because investors expect them to grow almost regardless of the economy’s overall strength. Because they’re so massive, and be- cause the S&P 500 gives more weight to movements by stocks with larger valuations, gains for these Big Tech stocks are masking weakness across much of the rest of the market. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines In this fi le photo, a board above the trading fl oor of the New York Stock Exchange shows the closing number for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Even before Monday’s swoon, the worst day and United Airlines all lost at least for stocks on Wall Street in a couple months, the market was fl ashing concerning signals. This summer a dwindling number of stocks have driven the market’s rise toward record highs while the 16% from June 1 through July 16, for majority of stocks in the S&P 500 have fallen. (AP) example, as worries mounted about have been scuffl ing since hitting a slowing economic growth. But to get peak in March. As of Monday they’d to the size of one Apple, you would fallen nearly 10% from that high. Company reports its worst slowdown in subscriber growth have to combine all three airlines - and Stocks from emerging markets have multiply that by more than 45 times. also struggled as the pandemic wors- Apple stock rose 17.5% from June ens in many countries due to the delta through mid-July. variant. The MSCI Emerging Markets To be sure, measures of breadth in Netfl ix confi rms move into video games the S&P 500 are still above their aver- index, which includes stocks from Bra- age levels for the past few decades. zil, China, India and other developing SAN RAMON, California, July 24, games it will be developing. titles may be added to the, mix too. He But breadth has nevertheless nar- economies, has been bouncing up and (AP): Netfl ix reported its worst slow- The confi rmation of the long- even speculated that Netfl ix eventually rowed sharply from earlier this year, down for months after falling more down in subscriber growth in eight anticipated expansion came in con- may create a TV series or fi lm inspired Anthem tops its marking an infl ection point for the than 10% from its peak set in Febru- years as people emerge from their pan- junction with the release of Netfl ix’s by one of its video games. “There’s a a market. And looking at stocks beyond ary. demic cocoons. So it’s adding a new latest earnings report. That fi nancial big, big prize here, and our job is to be the S&P 500, which only includes the Strategists at Morgan Stanley say attraction to its marquee: Video games. breakdown showed the video service really focused,” Peters said. Q2 expectations the bull market’s deteriorating breadth biggest U.S. companies, accentuates On Tuesday, the video streaming added 1.5 million subscribers during Despite this year’s growth slow- INDIANAPOLIS, July 24, (AP): An- the divergence. seems to be foreshadowing a sharp giant announced it will offer video the April-June period. That’s slightly down, Netfl ix remains by far the them topped second-quarter expecta- While the S&P 500 is still within a slowdown in corporate profi ts and an games in its existing subscription plans better than the modest increase that world’s biggest streaming service in tions even though the health insurer’s few percent of its July 12 record high, “economy that may feel worse than at no extra cost, but didn’t say when management forecast after the service an increasingly competitive fi eld that profi t tumbled as patients who hun- the smaller stocks in the Russell 2000 most are expecting.” that service will launch or what kind of stumbled to a sluggish start during the includes Walt Disney Co., HBO, Am- kered down last year at the start of the winter months, but still far below its azon and Apple. Netfl ix fi nished June COVID-19 pandemic started seeking growth rate in recent years. with 209 million worldwide subscrib- care again. Netfl ix’s net gain of 5.5 million sub- ers. Growing enrollment in government- scribers through the fi rst six months of Netfl ix’s heft also has produced funded programs like Medicaid and this year represents its weakest fi rst- steady profi ts. The company earned Medicare Advantage helped Anthem half performance since 2013 -- a time $1.35 billion, or $2.97 per share, near- balance the jump in care use. The Blue when the company was still rolling ly doubling from the same time last Cross-Blue Shield insurer also booked out more original programming as it year. Revenue rose by 19% from last more revenue from its IngenioRx busi- branched out from licensing existing year to $7.3 billion. ness, which runs pharmacy benefi ts. TV series and movies. But the lackluster fi rst-half numbers Overall, Anthem said Wednesday Now Netfl ix is taking another leap are a dramatic reversal from last year, that its net income fell 21% to $1.79 by offering video games that intends when government-imposed lockdowns billion, and adjusted earnings totaled to produce itself as part of what it de- across the world thrust people into $7.03 per share. Operating revenue, scribed as a multi-year expansion. The binge-watching frenzies while cor- which excludes investment income, Los Gatos, California, company tel- ralled at home. Already the world’s rose 14% to $33.28 billion. egraphed the move last week when it largest video streaming service when Analysts expected, on average, disclosed the hiring of a veteran video the pandemic began in March 2020, earnings of $6.34 per share on $33.15 game executive, Mike Verdu, to ex- Netfl ix picked up 26 million subscrib- billion in revenue, according to Zacks plore potential opportunities in another ers during the fi rst half of last year. . fi eld of entertainment. While no one expected Netfl ix to Investment Research. “The reason we’re doing them is to sustain that breakneck pace, the drop Indianapolis-based Anthem Inc. help the subscription service grow and off in subscriber growth this year has covers more than 43 million people be more important in people’s lives,” been more severe than anticipated. in several states, including big mar- Netfl ix co-CEO Reed Hastings told Netfl ix shares have fallen by about kets like New York and California. investors during a Tuesday discussion. 10% from their peak of $593.29 six Its IngenioRx business also brought Greg Peters, Netfl ix’s chief product months ago. The shares edged up in about $6.2 billion in revenue dur- offi cer, said the company will initially slightly in extended trading after Tues- ing the quarter. Health insurer profi ts focus on mobile games before even- day’s news came out. soared last year after the pandemic set tually expanding to consoles and TV Netfl ix management has blamed part in and patients canceled or postponed sets as well. The games initially will of this year’s slowdown to pandemic- elective surgeries and other non-COV- be tied to Netfl ix’s most popular pro- induced production delays that left its ID-19 care. But insurance executives gramming, Peters said, but standalone video service with fewer proven hits. predicted that much of this care would eventually take place. Anthem’s benefi t expense jumped 27% in the recently completed second quarter to nearly $25 billion. But en- rollment in state and federally funded Medicaid plans that Anthem manages climbed 19% to 9.7 million people. That was helped partly by a suspen- sion of state attempts to recertify the eligibility of people with Medicaid coverage during the pandemic. Anthem also said Wednesday that it now expects its full-year adjusted net income to be greater than $25.50 per share, up from a previous forecast for earnings surpassing $25.10 per share. The new outlook tops the average analyst forecast for $25.26 per share, according to FactSet. Company shares rose 1.4% to $395.45 in early trading. This fi le photo shows a logo for Netfl ix on a remote control in Portland, The stock has already climbed 21% Oregon. Netfl ix reported its worst slowdown in subscriber growth in eight since the beginning of the year and years as people emerge from their pandemic cocoons. (AP) 51% in the last 12 months. ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021 SCIENCE 11

Climate

Floods fuel debate G20 states want more urgent ‘climate goals’

ROME, July 24, (AP): Many of the climate and energy ministers at a Group of 20 meeting hosted by Italy agreed Friday to work toward even more ambitious goals for fi ght- ing climate change than those established in the 2015 Paris accords, an Italian offi cial said. Italy’s minister of ecological transition, Roberto Cingo- lani, also said during a news conference that concern over last week’s devastating fl ooding in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands was palpable during the two days of nego- tiations in Naples. Germany and the European Union are G-20 members. “All began by offering condolences” to the representa- tives of the affected countries, Cingolani said. Such natural disasters are “changing consciences,” even on a political level, he said. Climate scientists say the link be- tween extreme weather and global warming is unmistakable, making it clear that urgent action is needed. The G-20 nations collectively account for some 80% of the world’s gross do- mestic product and some 60% of the planet’s population. At the Naples talks, the United States, the European Union, Japan Cingolani and Canada made clear they “fi rmly intend to go faster than the Paris agreement by the (end of) the decade, and below 1.5 degrees,” Cingolani said. World leaders agreed six years ago in Paris to work to keep global temperatures from increasing more than 2 de- In this July 22, 2021 file photo, a health care worker fills a syringe with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Most grees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and ideally no more Americans who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots and doubt they would work against the aggressive delta variant than 1.5 degrees C (2.7 F) by the end of the century. Scien- despite evidence they do, according to a new poll that underscores the challenges facing public health officials amid soaring infections in some states. (AP) tists say both goals will be missed by a wide margin unless drastic steps are taken to reduce emissions. “That half degree could make an enormous difference in terms of glacial melting” and other phenomena linked to cli- Coronavirus mate change, Cingolani said. In any case, Cingolani said, all G-20 members agreed to at least meet the Paris goals. “There is no country which puts the Paris accords in doubt,” he said. UK opts not to vaccinate most under-18s Commitment US President Joe Biden’s climate envoy, John Kerry, participated in the Naples talks. Earlier in the week, Kerry called on China to join the United States in urgently cutting EU agency OKs Moderna for teens greenhouse gases. The majority of the countries at the conference also LONDON, July 24, (AP): The Eu- backed a goal of moving faster to reduce the use of coal, ropean Medicines Agency on Friday the Italian minister said, without naming all of the nations. recommended authorizing Moderna’s Should vaccinated people mask But during the talks, China, as well as Russia and India, COVID-19 vaccine for children ages were “more prudent” in embracing more ambitious goals, 12 to 17, the fi rst time the shot has been authorized for people under 18. up with COVID-19 cases rising? Cingolani said. The EU drug regulator said research “For those countries, it means putting into question an in more than 3,700 children aged 12 to economic model,” he said. 17 showed that the Moderna vaccine NEW YORK, July 24, (AP): Should started requiring residents to wear Exactly what commitment nations, including those which — already given the OK for adults vaccinated people mask up with masks indoors regardless of vac- heavily pollute, are willing to make toward fi ghting climate across Europe — produced a compa- COVID-19 cases rising? cination status, for example, and change will be also on display at UN climate conference rable antibody response. It depends on your situation, but officials in New Orleans are urging taking place in Scotland in November. Until now, the vaccine made by masking in public can provide an- people to do the same. The national leaders of the G-20 countries will have the A medical staff prepares a syringe Pfi zer and German partner BioNTech other layer of protection and help Though COVID-19 vaccines with the a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at prevent the virus from spreading to greatly reduce the chance of se- opportunity to thrash out the sticking points that emerged has been the only option for children others who aren’t protected. vere illness and death and remain in Naples when they meet in Rome at the end of October. a vaccination center at the beach of Carry le Rouet, southern France, July as young as 12 in North America and An easing of safety precau- effective against variants, some Meanwhile, as Germany reels from the deadliest inland 23. In France locals and tourists need Europe. tions and the large number of experts said wearing a mask is a fl oods in living memory, one word has been on the lips of now a special COVID pass to visit mu- The US Food and Drug Administra- people who remain unvaccinated reasonable precaution since it’s still leading politicians: “klimawandel,” the German word for seums or movie theaters, the first step tion is currently considering whether in many regions are contributing possible to get infected. climate change. in a new campaign against what the to extend the use of the Moderna vac- to the spread of cases around the Masking could also help prevent Last week’s disaster has propelled the issue to the fore government calls a ‘stratospheric’ rise cine to the same age group. world. the spread of the virus to children of an election campaign that will determine who succeeds in delta variant infections. (AP) With global vaccine supplies still The US Centers for Disease too young for vaccination and peo- Angela Merkel as German chancellor this fall after her 16 tight, much of the world is struggling Control and Prevention has not ple with weak immune systems. to immunize adults. The World Health changed its advice that fully vacci- “Personally, I continue to wear a years in offi ce. nated people can safely go without mask when going into public spac- It has also put the front-runner in the race, her party’s new Organization and other agencies have urged rich countries to donate their doses masks in most situations. But Dr. es outside of my household, both leader, Armin Laschet, on the defensive amid accusations Rochelle Walensky, the agency’s for my own protection and for the that he stalled efforts to expand the use of renewable en- to the developing world — where fewer than 2% of people have been vaccinated director, said local decisions on sake of my community,” said virus ergy, phase out coal power and introduce universal highway — rather than moving on to inoculate mask mandates could vary de- researcher Angela Rasmussen of speed limits during four years as governor of North Rhine- their less vulnerable populations. pending on vaccination levels and the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Westphalia state. whether there’s a surge. Organization at the University of Hundreds of millions of Moderna Los Angeles County recently Saskatchewan. An industrial powerhouse, the state is home to almost a doses already have been administered quarter of Germany’s population and was among the regions to adults, and the company says the hit hardest by the fl oods, which claimed more than 200 lives two-dose vaccine is just as protective and caused billions of euros (dollars) worth of damage. for adolescents. In a study of more than Prevention. Among those 16 and 17, come available. “I’ve known for a long time that climate change is a task Wiliams Obrador 3,700 12- to 17-year-olds, the vaccine about 37% are fully vaccinated. Children as young as 12 with severe that we’ll have to deal with,” Laschet said during a testy triggered the same signs of immune Both Pfi zer and Moderna have neuro-disabilities, Down syndrome, exchange with journalists on the morning after the worst protection, and no COVID-19 diag- begun testing in even younger chil- immunosuppression and multiple or fl ooding, insisting that he wanted “more speed” when it noses arose in the vaccinated group dren, from age 11 down to 6 months severe learning disabilities, as well came to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Discovery compared with four cases among those old. These studies are more complex: as those who are household contacts Such statements offer a glimmer of hope to climate activ- given dummy shots. Teens receive the same dose as adults, of individuals who are immunosup- ists like Salome Dorfer, who is campaigning to save the tiny Sore arms, headache and fatigue but researchers are testing smaller dos- pressed, will be eligible for vaccina- village of Luetzerath from being bulldozed to make way for were the most common side effects in es in younger children. The fi rst results tion, the government said Monday. Archaeologists to re-bury fi nd: The the young vaccine recipients, the same from children of elementary school The decision to hold off giving shots a coal mine. costs of dealing with the coronavirus pan- The village, located in Laschet’s state and fi rst mentioned ones as for adults. age are expected in September. to most people under age 18 was based demic have forced Mexican archaeolo- on the recommendation of an expert in records dating back 853 years, stands a few hundred me- gists to rebury an unusual fi nd that com- US and European regulators cau- Effi cacy ters (yards) from a vast pit where German utility giant RWE bined colonial and pre-Hispanic features. tion, however, that both the Moderna advisory panel. The Joint Committee The National Institute of Anthropol- and Pfi zer vaccines appear linked to The EU drug regulator said it would on Vaccination and Immunization said is extracting lignite coal to burn in nearby power plants. continue to monitor the safety and effi ca- The practice is due to end by 2038, but environmentalists ogy and History had announced in 2019 an extremely rare reaction in teens and the health benefi ts of universal vac- that it found a fl ood control tunnel on the young adults — chest pain and heart cy of the Moderna vaccine in children as cination don’t outweigh the risks for say it needs to stop at least 10 years earlier if Germany is infl ammation. it is used in European member countries. most young people, who typically suf- to play its part in meeting the Paris climate accord goal of outskirts of Mexico City that had Spanish construction techniques but carved Aztec In the United States, children rep- Although some countries have au- fer only mild symptoms of the virus. limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees symbols embedded in it. resent about 14% of the nation’s total thorized Pfi zer-BioNTech’s vaccine “Today’s advice does not recom- Fahrenheit). The institute had planned to make an coronavirus cases to date. And while for children under 18, not all have mend vaccinating under-18s without “Under every square meter below us is an average of 46 exhibit of the strange tunnel, which was the young are far less likely than the decided to start using it, citing the underlying health conditions at this tons of coal,” Dorfer said. “Every square meter we can de- apparently built in the early 1600s. It re- old to get seriously ill, at least 344 minimal risks children face from the point in time,” Health Secretary Sajid fend will save a lot of emissions.” placed an earlier Aztec fl ood-control sys- children have died of COVID-19 in coronavirus. Javid said in a statement. “But the While Dorfer and fellow activists prepare to hole up in tree tem built in the 1400s to protect Mexico the US alone, according to a tally by In Britain, for example, regula- JCVI will continue to review new data, houses to stop the evictions of villagers, she hopes growing City, then an island surrounded by shal- the American Academy of Pediatrics. tor cleared Pfi zer’s vaccine for 12 to and consider whether to recommend public awareness about the impact of climate change in the low lakes, against periodic fl oods. After So far in the US, just under half the 15-year-olds, but health offi cials have vaccinating under-18s without un- wake of the fl oods will make that fi ght unnecessary. the Spanish conquered the Aztec capital population is fully vaccinated — with so far declined to recommend the vac- derlying health conditions at a future in 1521, they unwisely destroyed parts of the highest rates, not surprisingly, cine for anyone under 18 unless they date.’’ Extreme the pre-Hispanic system. But the institute said that archaeolo- among older adults. Just a quarter of have medical conditions that warrant it. The decision not to vaccinate most Scientists say that while it’s hard to attribute specifi c gists would simply cover the fi nds with 12- to 15-year-olds, who got access to Meanwhile, the British government young people puts the UK at odds with storms to climate change, extreme weather of the kind that dirt again, in hopes that someday it would Pfi zer’s vaccine starting in May, have has decided not to inoculate most chil- France and several other European caused the fl ash fl oods in parts of Western Europe last have enough money to build a display for had their second dose, according to dren and teenagers against COVID-19 countries, which have decided to vac- week will become more severe and frequent in a warming it. the Centers for Disease Control and until more data on the vaccines be- cinate adolescents as young as 12. world. The institute said in a statement that “I think people are starting to see now that they are actu- “it must be considered that the world- ally affected, that it is necessary to act now,” Dorfer said. wide COVID-19 health emergency Archaeologists at the University of along the Chattooga, a free-fl owing museums in both states about taking the “There are devastating effects already. And we’ve (so far) forced all levels of government to place South Carolina say the boat could be 200 mountain river that runs along the Geor- canoe. (AP) priority on assigning money to health reached around 1.2 degrees Celsius of climate warming. If to 250 years old, a discovery that could gia-South Carolina border. ❑ ❑ ❑ we exceed 1.5 degrees, it will be a total disaster.” care for the population. For that reason, shed light on life in the late 1700s. Buzz Williams of the Chattooga Con- the archaeological project had to be Canoes of that age are rarely found servancy said he’s been talking with Roaming exotic cat caught: An ex- Standing at a viewing point on the edge of the nearby postponed.” Garzweiler lignite mine, software engineer Peter Schuette otic cat that was roaming parts of Atlanta Mexico has had to expand its woe- has been captured, but the owner is being said he, too, expects the recent fl oods to affect the way fully inadequate hospital system and buy forced to give up her pet because it’s il- people think about climate change and the need for dif- vaccines and medicines to deal with the legal to keep such cats as pets in Georgia. fi cult decisions in the years to come, even if it costs some pandemic, which has resulted in 237,626 The Georgia Department of Natural jobs. test-confi rmed deaths. Because the coun- Resources said that a serval, a species na- “I have kids and a family, too, and I just think we can’t go try has not wanted to buy large numbers tive to Africa, had been taken to a hold- on as before and pretend that’s not our problem,” Schuette of tests, many people have died without ing facility until it could be relocated to a being tested, and the real death toll is be- wildlife sanctuary. 52, said. “So far, many storms you saw were far away, some lieved to be around 360,000. Mexico’s South Sea islands that were at risk of being fl ooded. And Authorities had been searching for president is Andrés Manuel López Ob- the feline since June 30, when it entered now, suddenly, the water is fl ooding our own cellars.” rador. Germany’s Green party stands to gain from an increased a house and jumped on a woman’s bed The tunnel was discovered in an ancient while she was sleeping. focus on climate change, University of Bonn political scien- fl ood-control wall during the construction tist Volker Kronenberg said. of a confi ned-lane bus service line. (AP) The owner, Anna Fyfe, told The At- ❑ ❑ ❑ lanta Journal-Constitution she moved “The Greens have a lot of credibility with the public on to Georgia from South Carolina where this issue,” he said, noting that the party’s leaders have Rare historic canoe found: Conser- it’s legal to keep a serval as a pet. Fyfe so far refrained from trying to capitalize politically on the vationists have pulled a historic canoe told the newspaper that she had brought fl oods. from a river at the Georgia-South Caro- the serval to her Georgia home from her The party has pledged to raise carbon prices and bring lina line and plan to put it on display. parents’ house in South Carolina when the country’s exit from coal-fi red power forward to 2030. Volunteers with the Chattooga Con- it escaped. The animal is named Nala, It has sought to soothe concerns about higher energy prices servancy hauled the weathered wooden after a lioness in Disney’s “The Lion by pledging to give money raised from CO2 charges back to canoe out of the South Carolina side of In this file photo dated Feb 17, 2021, three vials of the Moderna COVID-19 King.” citizens in the form of an “energy bonus” that benefi ts low the Chattooga River after a group of ca- Vaccine are pictured in a new coronavirus vaccination center at the ‘Velodrom’ “The DNR did an amazing job at help- earners most. noeists headed downstream discovered (velodrome-stadium) in Berlin, Germany. The European Medicines Agency has ing catch Nala and making sure everyone the craft last fall, The State newspaper in recommended approving Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to is safe, even though she is just a kitty and Columbia reports. 17, the first time the shot has been authorized for people under 18. (AP) is harmless,” Fyfe said. (AP) People SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021 FFeatureseatures Discovery Channel, which features Discovery Channel, whichfeatures created by week-long TVprogramming block Disney+ streamingservice. also beenmadeavailableoverthe month. Theprogramminghas six weeks,beginningearlierthis actually spreadSharkFestover NBC Universalnetworks. to advertisetheirwares—asthe programming, whichnetworksuse Fromm is incrediblyimportant,”said when youturnonyourTV,thatjust doesn’t comeonautomatically within thenextmonth. came backforotherprogramming one-third ofthosenewviewers seen thenetworkmonthbefore. Fest, where51%ofviewershadn’t for NationalGeographic’sShark phenomenon wasmorepronounced during thepreviousmonth.That watched Discoveryatanypoint of thepeoplewhotunedinhadn’t during SharkWeeklastyear,37% furiously foreyeballs. streaming servicesarecompeting where televisionnetworksand increasingly importantinanera viewers tothenetwork,something trated itspotencyinbringingnew could haveitsownchildren. one advertisingexecutivejokedit ery, atelevisioneventsooldthat ished its33rdeditiononDiscov- Post Malone A$AP Rocky, several times.Thislineupincludes 2020, theeventwasrescheduled pandemic. OriginallysetforMay year becauseofthecoronavirus Rolling Loudwascanceledlast the stages. and otherequipmentnexttooneof a largepileofdownedscaffolding Rock StadiuminMiamiGardens. one ofthefestival’sstagesatHard that thescreentoppledoveronto begin. Therewerenoinjuries. hip-hop musicfestivalwassetto a daybeforetheRollingLoud lapsed ata interests,” astatementbyPitt’srepresentativesaid.“Wewillcontinue — toreachtheirclearconclusionaboutwhatisinthechildren’sbest evidence whichledthejudge—andmanyexpertswhotestifi The factshaven’tchanged.Thereisanextraordinaryamountoffactual judge toincreasetheirprivacyinthedivorceproceedings. custody issues. nor children,whichwasnearinganend,couldjustbegettingstarted. NEW YORK: MIAMI: impartial. Disqualifi facts, reasonablytoentertainadoubtasthejudge’sabilitybe with Pitt’scounsel,mightcauseanobjectiveperson,awareofallthe formation disclosedconcerninghisrecentprofessionalrelationships Pitt’s attorneys. W. Ouderkirkdidn’tsuffi their childrenshouldbedisqualifi agreed withherthattheprivatejudgedecidingwhogetscustodyof Friday inherdivorcewithBradPittwhenaCaliforniaappealscourt LOS ANGELES,July24,(AP):AngelinaJoliescoredamajorvictory Jolie-Pitt divorce judgedisqualifi Shark Week is an annual, Shark Weekisanannual, National Geographichas It’s thedefi “In a world where cable just “In aworldwherecablejust For bothnetworks,morethan A studybyLGAdsfoundthat But somerecentresearchillus- Like manyotherevents, Helicopter newsfootageshows Organizers postedonTwitter “The appealscourtrulingwasbasedonatechnicalproceduralissue. Like manycelebritycouples,PittandJolieoptedtohiretheirown The judgealreadyruledthepairdivorced,butseparatedchild The decisionmeansthatthecustodyfi “Judge Ouderkirk’sethicalbreach,consideredtogetherwiththein- The 2ndDistrictCourtofAppealagreedwithJoliethatJudgeJohn , anexecutiveatLGAds. ❑ A giantvideoscreencol- Tom Golden South Florida nition ofevent . (AP) Shark Weekjustfi Travis Scott cation isrequired,”thecourtruled. at the atthe stadium, ciently disclosebusinessrelationshipswith and Justin Justin n- ed. has been the longest-running cable has beenthelongest-running cable Discovery Channel. Since2010,it popularity andbecame ahitonthe about sharks.Overtime,itgrewin and correctingmisconceptions devoted toconservationefforts or earlyAugust,itwasoriginally 17, 1988.Featuredannually,inJuly Week originallypremieredonJuly shark-based programming.Shark ‘C back asecret.Therearemaritaltroubles,perfuncto- (Vicky Krieps)isamuseumcurator,clearlyholding spouting statsonhowpeopledieinaccidents.Prisca logical useofBernal’scharms,butOK—constantly nal) isananxiousinsuranceactuary—notthemost Trent, 6,andMaddox,10.Guy(GaelGarciaBer- a comedy. times, onlytosheepishlyremindyourselfthisisn’t You’ll surelyfi fault. Thedialogueisoftencartoonishlyclumsy. the next,andmoreridiculous.It’sperhapsnottheir enough, buteachadultismoreexasperatingthan dare-you-to-care-about-me way.Thekidsarenice good way—inanannoying,instantlytedious,I- premise andprettyscenery.It’sjustnotenough. dispenses withallthat,relyingsolelyonanenticing much toask,right? care, anddecentdialoguetomovethingsalong.Not we canrootfor,amodicumofbackstorytomakeus if it’svirtual.Justgiveusafewmeatycharacters we couldallusetwohoursonabeautifulbeach,even audience. It’ssummer,it’sbeenanawfulyear,and clever andprovocative.Andfrankly,we’reacaptive Shyamalan fi your watch—thefi English estateorastunningcoastalretreat,youcanset Every timeacharactersaysthat,whetheratdreamy hackneyed catchphraseofthevacationhorrormovie. you believeIfoundthisonline?”hasbecomethe isn’t agoodsign—forthefamilyORfi resort. “Old,” astheirfamilyarrivesataglisteningbeach A Shyamalan-stylefi ght overthe couple’sfi Prisca andGuyarevacationingwiththeirkids, The charactersarequirky,buttrustus,notina Apparently, itis.BecauseShyamalanbaffl Still, wehopeforthebest.“Old”isanM.Night Not to be a Debbie Downer quite so soon, but this Not tobeaDebbieDownerquitesosoon,butthis This imagereleasedbyUniversalPicturesshowsThomasinMcKenzie,(left),andAlexWolffinascenefrom‘Old.’(AP) Variety Prisca askshusbandGuyatthebeginningof an youbelieveIfoundthisonline?’adelighted lm, soyouknowthepremisewillbe Jolie scores a major victory inchildren’sJolie scoresamajorvictory custodybattle By JocelynNoveck nd yourselfbelly-laughingseveral rst bodywillappearinminutes. ve mi- ed Film tody decision,whichisfavorabletoPitt,fromgoingintoeffect. was astallingtacticbyJolietokeepOuderkirk’srecenttentativecus- been disclosedwerenotdisclosed.” ency,” Jolie’sattorneyRobertOlsonsaid.“Mattersthatshouldhave play bytherulesandareveryclear,theyrequirefulltranspar- The courtcitedseveralcases,includingthedivorceof“Modern Pitt attorneyTheodoreBoutroussaidtheattemptatdisqualifi “If you’regoingtoplaytheroleofapaidprivatejudgeyouhave Ouderkirk, areusuallyretiredsuperiorcourtjudges. exactly whichethicalrulesshouldapplytoprivatejudges,who,like disqualifi in afi sions. 12-year-old Knox.Onlythefi Pax, 16-year-oldZahara,15year-oldShiloh,12-year-oldVivienneand best forthechildren.” to dowhat’snecessarylegallybasedonthedetailedfi ct Malone Scott The July9oralargumentsinfrontoftheappealscourtfocusedon Ouderkirk declinedtodisqualifyhimselfwhenJolieaskedhim Jolie andPitthavesixchildren:19-year-oldMaddox,17-year-old Details ofthecustodyrulingshavenotbeenpubliclyreleased. Crystal waters,softsandsandprettyCrystal scenery ling inAugust.AlowercourtjudgeruledthatJolie’srequestfor cation cametoolate.Jolie’sattorneysthenappealed. lm. “Can lm. “Can ingly fi ously, peoplewilldie.Theonlyquestioniswhogoes half-hour onthatbeachequalsayearoflife.Obvi- something attackstheirbrainandtheyblackout. and there’snowayout—whenanyonetriestoleave, but underusedThomasinMcKenzie).Panicsetsin, school-aged toteenagers(AlexWolffandthelovely It’s morevisiblewiththekids,whosuddenlygofrom denly happeningtoeveryone:They’reaging.Rapidly. Leung), anurse. fers epilepticseizures,andherhusbandJarin(Ken — Patricia(NikkiAmuka-Bird),atherapistwhosuf- for help,butthere’snosignal.Twonewguestsarrive spending timewiththerapper.Thegrouptriestocall someone hasasoccer-ballsizedtumorremoved been madetocare,maybewe’dbeconcernedwhen the fl the distance.Trentgoesswimming,onlytoconfront Mid-Sized Sedan(AaronPierre),sittingdazedin Maddox recognizesawell-knownrappernamed rst. Transparency What’s happening?Thegroupcalculatesthata But allthisturbulencepalesagainstwhat’ssud- But ...wedon’tcareaboutanyofthem!Ifwe’d On thegorgeousbeach,thingsquicklyturnweird. older mother. (Abbey Lee),theiryoungdaughterandthedoctor’s Sewell), Chrystal,hisyoung,beauty-obsessedwife other family:Charles,animperiousdoctor(Rufus Shyamalan himself,inasmallpart)alongwithan- by cliffs.Soonthey’reoffinahotelvan(driven secluded beachonanaturepreserve,surrounded portunity bythecreepyresortmanager:atripto talking about.Honestly,wouldyou? past!” Thekidshavenoideawhattheheckthey’re seen!!” Guyreplies:“You’realwaysthinkingofthe of thefuture!”Priscayells.“Itmakesmefeelnot argues, kidslisteningin.“You’realwaysthinking rily establishedinanearlyscenewherethecouple oating corpseofawoman,who’drecentlybeen The nextday,they’reofferedatantalizingop- ve minorsaresubjecttocustodydeci- and iTunes. and iTunes. & TV/YouTube,Amazon Video, services likeGooglePlayMovies are alsoavailableforpurchaseon Facebook andTwitter.Episodes heavily viasocialnetworkslike countries, SharkWeekispromoted in history.Broadcastover72 television programmingevent Discovery programs averaged Discovery programs averaged Turbulence ed byappealscourt nal twistin‘Old’ ndings ofwhat’s cation to testifyinthecase. that purportedlyoffersadditionalinformation. referring to,butherlawyerssubmittedadocumentundersealinMarch of domesticviolence.Herfi best interestofthechildifcustodyisawardedtoapersonwithhistory section oftheCaliforniacourtscode,whichsaysitisdetrimentalto the couple’schildrentotestifyinproceedings. child custody. be declaredsinglewhileotherissuesremained,includingfi their lawyersaskedforajudgmentthatallowedmarriedcoupleto marriage in2016.TheyweredeclareddivorcedApril2019,after then washiredtooverseetheirdivorcewhenJoliefi couples for12years.Ouderkirkoffi lowed inCaliforniaatall,buttheirrulingappliesonlytoOuderkirk. failed todiscloseonequicklyorcompletelyenough. entirely todiscloseabusinessrelationshipwithPitt’sattorneysor Family” co-creatorStevenLevitan,inwhichOuderkirkeitherfailed The rulingdoesnotaddresswhetherthechildrenshouldbeallowed The actressalsosaidthejudge“hasfailedtoadequatelyconsider”a In May,JolieandherattorneyscriticizedOuderkirkfornotallowing Jolie, 46,andPitt,57,wereamongHollywood’smostprominent The panelquestionedwhethersuchanarrangementshouldbeal- week’s Nielsencompany fi popular andwascountedinlast of SharkWeek,July11,isthemost ball’s All-StarGame.Thefi tion fromtheNBAFinalsandbase- week, althoughtherewascompeti- week, oddlylowerthantheprevious 687,000 viewersinprimetimelast aged 18-to-49, an indication that the aged 18-to-49,anindication thatthe Viewing increased among viewers affair andwillbeginat5p.m.EST.(AP) Film Independent,inastatement. excited tocelebrate,”said mean theawardscouldnowinfl from attendeesalreadyintownfortheOscars,itdoes noon fete.Whiletheshowwon’tbeabletobenefi urday beforetheOscarsasacasual,beachside,after- profi before theAcademyAwardsonMarch27,non- will nowtakeplaceonSunday,March6,threeweeks Oscars weekend.The37thannualawardsceremony Independent SpiritAwardsaremovingawayfrom even brighterlightonthefi lier intheawardsseasonwillallowustoshinean verse, unique,independentstorytelling;shiftingear- LOS ANGELES: The 2022ceremonyisalsomovingtoanevening The SpiritAwardshavelongbeenheldontheSat- “The SpiritAwardshavealwayschampioneddi- fi hydrated.” Again,thisisNOTplayedforlaughs. ly tohisparents:“Dad,Mom,youguysgottastay the bloodymayhemonbeach,Trentsaysearnest- seizure …oh,andoneverybadcalciumdefi the mentalbreakdown,murder,drowning, from theirstomach.Orbytheunintendedpregnancy, Running time:108minutes.Twostarsoutoffour. content, partialnudityandbriefstronglanguage.” “for strongviolence,disturbingimages,suggestive end, you’llbefouryearsolder. an hourand48minutes.So,justawarning:Bythe bit tired.Andmaybeforgoodreason.Thisfi we’re allowedinonthesecrethere,feelinga for somesummerfunonthebeach.Butbytime but itcomesway,waytoolate.Listen,we’reallup t organizationFilmIndependentsaidThursday. nal twist—themostentertainingpartoffi Of course,itallcomesdowntoaShyamalan-style How sillyisthedialogue?Smallexample:Amid “Old,” aUniversalrelease,hasbeenratedPG-13 In abreakfromtradition,theFilm gures. gures. lingdidnotgivedetailsaboutwhatitwas rst night Also: Josh Welsh ciated thecouple’s2014wedding, lms andshowsweare uence Oscarsvoting. Telemundo had1 million. (AP) Television had1.1 millionand Univision had1.6 million, Ion 2.6 million,CBShad2.4 and Foxhad2.9million.NBC viewers inprimetimelastweek, events, ABCaveraged4.1million was differentthantypicalweeks. network’s audiencecomposition Benefi , Presidentof ting fromtheirsports led todissolvethe ciency! lm lasts nances and t lm, ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

TV

A real challenge ‘Jeopardy!’ host gig began scary: Burton LOS ANGELES, July 24, (AP): LeVar Bur- ton’s quest to become the new host of “Jeop- ardy!” has been a confi dent, upbeat effort by the actor and those who rooted him on with a peti- tion drive. But when the day came to tape the fi rst of his week’s share of episodes as one of a suc- cession of guest hosts, the show’s pace and the challenge of following in Alex Trebek’s much- admired footsteps threw Burton off stride. It made for a rough start to the fi ve back-to- back tapings that begin airing Monday, said the veteran actor known for “Roots,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and ”Reading Rainbow.” He turned for advice to wife Stephanie Cozart Burton, who as his makeup artist was on hand to play coach during a production break. “Being at home, it feels like a really relaxed half- hour, but it’s not relaxed at all,” he said. “You can’t let Burton your focus drop for a nano- second.” Burton has been watching and assessing the other guest hosts — in other words, his com- This image provided by Jeopardy Productions, Inc. shows ‘Jeopardy!’ guest host LeVar Burton on the set of the game show. (AP) petition for the position that the Canadian-born Trebek held from 1984 to shortly before his No- vember 2020 death from cancer at age 80. Art Fleming was the quiz’s show’s original and only other host, in the 1960s and ‘70s. Music Although Burton had made the show’s pro- ducers aware of his interest in being considered, his addition to the roster came after a petition Singer reinvents on ‘Gold-Diggers Sound’ backing him as the new “Jeopardy!” host caught fi re (with more than 250,000 signatures to date). He faces other openly eager would-be hosts — including NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers Leon Bridges shares his evolution — but the actor, director and education and lit- eracy advocate sees himself as a solid match for LOS ANGELES, July 24, (AP): a game show that rewards knowledge. “Gold-Diggers Sound” is an apropos Burton spoke with The Associated Press name for the third studio album of an about his wife’s on-point advice, why diversity artist who struck it rich six years ago Kanye West unveils new album matters for “Jeopardy!” and what he thinks of with his debut LP. his chances for the job expected to be fi lled this Leon Bridges’ music quickly earned & Jay-Z track at listening event summer, before next season’s taping begins. Re- him recognition. “Coming Home” was marks have been edited for clarity and length. nominated for Best R&B album at the 2015 Grammys. Three years later, his LOS ANGELES, July 24, (AP): Tuesday that his album will be AP: What was the guest-host experience like? Kanye West barely said a word released Friday. The commercial, sophomore album’s “Bet Ain’t Worth during his album listening session scored and directed by West, fea- Burton: Scary. Really, really, really scary. the Hand” landed him his fi rst Gram- Did I mention it was scary? Grammy-winning artist Leon Bridges Thursday night, but the mercu- tured “No Child Left Behind,” a discusses his musical and personal my win. rial rapper still had most attendees song from the album. AP: How so? evolution as he releases his third The fame that came next was an ad- standing on their feet while hanging When West began playing “No Burton: I’ve jumped out of airplanes. I’ve studio album, the R&B-forward ‘Gold- justment for Bridges. He lost his ano- on every word of his new project. Child Left Behind,” he dropped to walked over hot coals. This was a real challenge. Diggers Sound.’ in Fort Worth, Texas, nymity and felt isolated — an experience West unveiled his 10th studio al- one knee before he slightly lifted First of all, because (‘Jeopardy!’) is singular in Wednesday, July 21. (AP) he details in the song “Blue Mesas.” bum, “Donda” in front of a packed up into a track runner’s stance like the culture and what it means to people as a part “When you take an insecure person crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Sta- Richardson, who will miss the Tokyo and put them in a limelight, it’s a little dium in Atlanta. His album was Olympics after a positive marijuana of their daily lives. And the fact that there are hard to deal with that sometimes, you named after his mother, Donda test this month. The rapper then only two hosts who have ever stood in that spot. know?” he said in an interview this West, who died at the age of 58 stood up and pointed his fi nger into The pressure, the natural tendency was to want Variety week. following plastic surgery complica- the air as the words “he’s done mira- to live up to Alex’s example, his legacy. I had, The story behind the album’s name, tions in 2007. cles on me” were heard on the song. like all of the hosts, one day of rehearsal and the though, is literal — Gold-Diggers is Pulling off the listening session The crowd appeared surprise to BROOKLYN, Mich: Country singer Luke following day I shot fi ve episodes of ‘Jeopardy!’ the name of the hotel where Bridges — which was livestreamed on Ap- hear when Jay-Z began rapping on Combs is paying the funeral expenses of wrote and recorded his new material. ple Music — was an impressive the fi nal song of the listening ses- I came backstage after taping the fi rst episode three young men who saw him perform at feat for West, who sold out the ven- sion. On social media, the song was and I said to Stephanie, ‘Well, how did I do?’ She a Michigan music festival before they died “I have been working and kind of digging and searching for the right ue after he announced two days lauded for Jay-Z’s verse that includ- said, ‘ehhh.’ Now, this is a woman who loves me from accidental carbon monoxide poison- ago that the fi rst public listen of ed “This might be the return of the ing at a nearby campground, relatives said. sound over the course of two years,” enough to tell me the truth. She said it wasn’t me. Bridges said. his highly-anticipated album would throne,” a nod toward the tandem’s “For him to reach out and do that, I don’t take place. Some of the big names 2011 album “Watch the Throne,” AP: How did you adjust? even have the words. I wish I could just He wanted an R&B album “ground- Burton: I made it my business for the next who attended the event were Rick which earned a Grammy nomination. give him a hug,” said Meeka Sova, the ed with organic elements” and Gold- Ross, Khloe Kardashian and his After the song fi nished, West four chances at bat to just be myself, to forget mother of Kole Sova. Diggers was “the perfect place to estranged wife Kim Kardashian made his way toward the end zone about the procedure, to forget about the process, Sova, 19, William “Richie” Mays Jr, house all of this music.” West, who showed up in a red area, stared at the crowd for a few stop trying, stop focusing on the wrong thing. 20, and Dawson Brown, 20, were found Bridges held a Grammys party there jumpsuit with their kids. moments and calmly walked off the You’re not going to be smooth as Alex, let go of dead in a travel trailer on July 17. Police in 2019 and after connecting with the Unlike West’s typical high-energy fl oor as the audience collectively said the friends were exposed to emissions space, decided he wanted the album concerts, he appeared more mel- cheered for him. that. But what you can bring to the table is you. from a portable generator that was too experience to be immersive — he So that became my point of focus. And when it low. He let his music do the talking West, 44, is mostly known as be- close to their camper. Two more young started a residency at the hotel, brought while most attendees listened in si- ing associated with Chicago, but he did, I started having fun. men remain in a hospital. in collaborators and got to work. lence and applauded at the end of was born in Atlanta — a Georgia AP: Why do you consider the show and the Mays’ mother, Amy Satterthwaite, each track of his album, slated for city where there are no restrictions host’s role as worthwhile? recalled how she held her son’s hand the Infl uences release Friday, that features gospel against large gatherings. He gifted Burton: I’ve been about education my entire previous night during Combs’ appearance As the musicians would jam and im- themes, hip-hop vibes, his Auto- 5,000 tickets to faculty, staff and at the Faster Horses Festival, a weekend Tune vocals, a track featuring his students from some Atlanta HB- career, and I defi nitely believe in the medium show at Michigan International Speedway. provise, he sang melodies and phrases friend-mentor Jay-Z and recorded CUs including Clark Atlanta, More- (of television) as one where more than simply “That was the last time we were with our over top, gradually shaping each song. boys,” Satterthwaite said. For some, he had a specifi c artist in speeches made by his mother. house, Spelman, Morris Brown and entertaining is the order of the day. I try and use mind, like Sade when he was writing While sporting an all-red outfi t the Interdenominational Theologi- the medium in a way that brings something else Combs had no comment about the dona- tion, spokeswoman Asha Goodman told “Magnolias.” But for most, he says he with orange shoes, West some- cal Center. to the table as often as I can. I think that ‘Roots’ MLive.com. (AP) was just “doing me.” times walked, fell to his knees, and Last year, West announced on and ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Reading Rainbow,’ they all ❑ ❑ ❑ “I didn’t necessarily have an idea of pranced around on a white fl ooring Twitter — with colorful cover art have that commonality about them, that com- what the concept would be on some of about the size of the football fi eld, and a track list — that he would re- mon thread of entertainment, yes — and infor- TOPEKA, Kan: Robert E. “Robby” them,” said Bridges. where the city’s professional football lease his latest album. At the time, Steinhardt, a violinist and vocalist with But he knew he didn’t want to repli- and soccer teams play home games. his tweets indicated that his project mational, inspiring, enlightening, educational, the progressive rock band Kansas, has died The 22-time Grammy winner would release on the same day as uplifting. We can do so much more than just sell cate the sound of his last two albums. due to complications from pancreatitis. He He says it was a conscious decision to revealed in a commercial, featur- his rival Taylor Swift’s project “Folk- each other stuff with the medium. was 71. ing U.S. track star Sha’Carri Rich- lore,” but his album ended up being Cindy Steinhardt stay unpredictable. He calls growth ardson, during the NBA Finals on postponed. AP: There’s signifi cant diversity among the His wife, , said he and change inevitable. guest hosts. Would there be value in ‘Jeopardy!” died at a hospital in Tampa, Florida. She announced on Facebook that he had just “With each album, I want to con- having its fi rst person of color or woman as host? recorded his fi rst solo album, and had been tinue reinventing myself as an artist,” and I think there’s still some of those He believes artists like Lil Nas X Burton: There’s nothing like ‘Jeopardy!’ looking forward to being back on stage and he said. gospel undertones in the music, but it’s and Lizzo are redefi ning the bounda- in the cultural consciousness. It’s not that I’m going on tour. In “Coming Home,” the infl u- more so liberating to just make the mu- ries of Black art that is accepted within trying to put it on the same level, but I liken Steinhardt, a native of Lawrence, Kan- ences of gospel music are pervasive. sic that I want.” the Black community. it to Barack Obama being elected president in sas, was an original member of the band, In “Good Thing,” Bridges leans on a Breaking out of the box is some- “You know, guys like Daniel Cae- the United States in 2008. I personally never teaming up with Topeka West High School more retro sound. thing he knows may have alienated sar, he was kind of on the forefront graduates Kerry Livgren, Rich Williams, “When I fi rst came in the game with thought I would see that happen in my lifetime. Phil Ehart and Dave Hope and with Steve some fans. But for any of the fans he of that, and it’s really beautiful to see ‘Coming Home,’ I was immediately lost, there were plenty he gained. artists who don’t really fi t the mold of Did his election mean that we were in a post- Walsh, who grew up in St Joseph, Mis- pigeonholed and placed in a box,” says racial America? Obviously not at all. But it was souri. Steinhardt performed with Kansas Bridges. “Throughout my career, I’ve always what’s popular being embraced,” he an important step. Every time we reach that from 1973 to 1982 and 1997 to 2006, the The shift away from spiritual tracks been scrutinized for my music being said. milestone of a fi rst, it does say something about Topeka Capital-Journal reported. correlated with his relationship with re- essentially whitewashed,” he said. As for Bridges, he’s content in the The band sold more than 15 million ligion. While songs like “River” from “But I can see via social media that direction he’s heading and looking us. It also tells us something that we continue to records and notched up seven top 40 hits, there’s more Black people engaging in forward to the part of the process he have these moments of fi rsts.... that white is the his fi rst album are rooted in Christian including “Dust in the Wind” and “Carry symbolism, songs from “Gold-Diggers and supporting the music.” enjoys the most — performing. normative default. The reason that white is the on Wayward Son.” Bridges says it was initially “off put- “Writing is such a tedious and chal- The band, which now makes its home Sound,” like “Sho Nuff” are playfully default is the conversation that we are trying to sensual. ting” for him to hear criticism of his lenging thing,” he said. “The last step have in this country now, that there’s so much in Atlanta, continues to perform with Williams and Ehart as the only original “I was apprehensive at that time, music, but he doesn’t think about it an- of getting on the stage and witnessing resistance to. remaining members. (AP) writing those songs out of fear of not ymore. Rap and hip-hop culture are so this, like, collective effervescence in AP: How optimistic are you about being ❑ ❑ ❑ being accepted,” said Bridges. “Cur- inundated in the mainstream that even the crowd and putting out the energy picked as host? rently, like, I don’t really know what a Young Thug concert can have pre- and then getting it back, it’s a beauti- Burton: I am a preternaturally optimistic LOUISVILLE, Ky: David Hawpe, who my relationship with God is anymore dominately white fans, he points out. ful thing.” rose through the ranks of the Courier person. Look, if I don’t get this job, will it be Journal to become editor of the Louisville devastating to me? No. I mean, it will hurt, I’ll newspaper, which won multiple Pulitzer be disappointed. And I’ll be fi ne, because what Prizes on his watch, has died. He was 78. I know about my life is that which is supposed His death was confi rmed on Facebook ing the lives of all Kentuckians. He will be “lift his family out of its destitute existence to be for me comes my way. And that which is by his sister-in-law, Hilda Miller. Hawpe greatly missed.” on Bear Run in Owsley County” because had been hospitalized with multiple health Hawpe began his career reporting for “he doesn’t vote the way he was told to.” not mine, doesn’t. The most important thing is problems, the Courier Journal reported. The Associated Press in Kentucky. In The next year, Hawpe covered the that I went for it and my passion was rewarded. Hawpe was an unabashed liberal who 1969, he started working for the Courier Hyden mine disaster in Leslie County I got what I wanted, which was an opportunity championed school reform, working people Journal in its Hazard bureau in eastern that killed 38 men. Watching family to compete for the job. If I don’t get the gig, it’s and the Appalachian region of his home Kentucky. members file into a gymnasium to iden- not immaterial, but it certainly is secondary. I state during his decadeslong career. He wrote his fi rst front-page story in tify the dead, Hawpe said he vowed to do “Kentucky lost one of its strongest late 1969, the newspaper reported, about a anything possible to “reduce the chances got what I was after. The chance — get me in voices in the passing of journalist David disabled “tall, gaunt 30-year-old father of of that happening again. I’ve tried all this the room. Hawpe,” Gov Andy Beshear said on social 5 who went as far as the second grade” and time to be true to the promise I made to media. “David dedicated his work to better- said was denied county assistance to help Steinhardt Combs myself.” (AP) ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021 SPORTS 14 Devers homers twice, Red Sox beat Yankees Megill earns 1st win as Mets blank Jays

BOSTON, July 24, (AP): Rafael Devers hit two home runs, including a go-ahead blast in the fi fth inning, to help the Boston Red Sox best New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole for the sec- ond straight time at Fen- way Park in a 6-2 victory. Devers followed his two-run with a three-run homer in the sev- enth - the 100th of his career - to Japan’s Yamato Fujita hits a three-run home run during a softball game against Italy at Yokohama Baseball Sta- help Boston improve to 9-2 against dium during the 2020 Summer Olympics, on July 24, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP) New York this season. The Red Sox maintained their one-game AL East lead over Tampa Bay and New York Mets pitcher Tylor Megill throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter Yamamoto hits 2-run homer, Japan down Italy increased their lead to nine games during the third inning of a baseball game, on July 23, in New York. (AP) over the third-place Yankees. Yacksel Rios (3-0) got the victory, pitch- run homer in Houston’s big third inning seventh inning against Chicago. Osterman pitches US softball over Mexico ing two scoreless innings to cap a strong to help the Astros hand Texas its 10th White Sox manager Tony La Russa night from the bullpen after starter Eduardo straight loss. and outfi elder Tim Anderson were YOKOHAMA, Japan, July 24, (AP): After Yordan Alvarez hit an RBI sin- ejected by plate umpire John Libka. La Rodriguez left in the second inning after gle and Carlos Correa followed with an experiencing migraine symptoms. Russa’s ejection came during a mound Turned down for a job in the U.S. RBI grounder, Tucker fought through a conference with two outs in the seventh coaching pool in 2016 after she re- Swiatek wins Tokyo tennis opener Mets 3, Blue Jays 0 nine-pitch at-bat - fouling off six pitches after Milwaukee’s Rowdy Tellez drew tired as a player, Cat Osterman found TOKYO, July 24, (AP): Having grown player to win a Grand Slam title at last In New York, Tylor Megill threw six in a row - before smacking a fastball a bases-loaded walk on a 3-2 pitch that she was not angry. So she’s back in from Kolby Allard (2-8) into the bull- was ruled just outside. Anderson was in the Olympics at age 38, and not just up listening to stories from her father year’s French Open, jumped out to a 5-0 scoreless innings for his fi rst big league victory and got his fi rst career hit, Pete pen in right center to make it 5-0. It was the dugout in the top of the eighth inning throwing but dominating. about competing at the 1988 Olympics lead in the opening set and then broke Tucker’s 18th of the season. in rowing, then having won a bronze midway through the second against her Alonso homered twice and New York when he got tossed. Osterman pitched six innings of beat Toronto. Phillies 5, Braves 1 one-hit ball and Monica Abbott struck medal herself in doubles at the Summer German opponent. Royals 5, Tigers 3 Youth Olympics, Iga Swiatek had been It clearly wasn’t the setting that Megill (1-0) allowed two hits, walked In Philadelphia, Zack Wheeler re- out the side in the seventh, helping the one and struck out fi ve as the rookie In Kansas City, Mo., Ryan O’Hearn thinking about competing at the Tokyo Swiatek had dreamed of, with specta- turned to his All-Star form for seven hit a three-run homer, Carlos Santana top-ranked U.S. shut out No. 5 Mexico right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.10 a Games for some time. tors banned because of the coronavirus innings, Bryce Harper stole three bases, also connected and Kansas City ended 2-0 on Saturday. Ali Aguilar provided few hours after the Mets bolstered their Her focus was on sharp display in a pandemic, but that didn’t seem to affect including home, and Philadelphia beat Detroit’s winning streak at seven. a two-run single in the third that was injury-plagued rotation by acquiring 6-2, 6-2 win over 172nd-ranked Mona her one bit. Atlanta. Kansas City has won three in a row for just enough for the Americans to im- Rich Hill from Tampa Bay. New York Barthel in the opening match on Center The only sounds inside the vast sta- J.T. Realmuto hit his 10th homer and the fi rst time since June 4. prove to 3-0 as the country tries to re- has eight starters on the injured list, in- Court of the Olympic tennis tournament Jean Segura had a tiebreaking, two-run Kris Bubic (3-4) gave up one earned gain the Olympic gold medal. dium came from cars and trains passing cluding ace Jacob deGrom. Saturday. nearby, mixed with the thwacking of double in helping Philadelphia snap a run and six hits in six innings. Greg Hol- Osterman didn’t pitch competitively Swiatek, who became the fi rst Polish Rays 10, Indians 5 three game losing streak. land got his seventh save. from 2016-18. At the Olympics, she and Swiatek’s forehand, which accounted for 12 of her 16 winners. In Cleveland, Nelson Cruz homered in Wheeler (8-5) worked his way out of Abbott have combined on three one-hit his biggest trouble in the fi fth inning, Twins 5, Angels 4 shutouts over four days. Osterman (2-0), Swiatek also committed only 16 un- his Tampa Bay debut and Joey Wendle forced errors to Barthel’s 30. coaxing Austin Riley to ground out to In Minneapolis, Nick Gordon scored who like Abbott is 6-foot-3, has allowed hit a go-ahead single in a six-run ninth the go-ahead run in the eighth inning The eighth-ranked Swiatek will next inning to help the Rays beat Cleveland. short to get out of a bases loaded jam. two hits in 12 innings with 13 strikeouts Max Fried (7-6) took the loss. on a throwing error by catcher Kurt Su- face either Paula Badosa of Spain or On a day the Indians announced they zuki in Minnesota’s victory over Los and one walk, throwing 169 pitches. Kristina Mladenovic of France. will change their name to the Guard- Orioles 6, Nationals 1 Abbott (1-0), a lanky Big Unit-like Angeles. With the heat and humidity stifl ing ians at the conclusion of the season, a In Baltimore, Pat Valaika homered Ryan Jeffers hit a tying RBI single lefty who turns 36 on Wednesday, has from the start, players wrapped towels new name for the Rays helped them beat a complete game and two three-out twice - doubling his total for the season off closer Raisel Iglesias (6-4), who was fi lled with ice around their necks to cool Cleveland for the 10th straight time. - and Baltimore beat Washington for charged with his fourth blown save in 24 saves. She has given up one hit in nine down on changeovers. just its second victory in its last 11 home innings with 15 strikeouts and three Cubs 8, Diamondbacks 3 attempts after being summoned with a The temperature was 90 degrees F (32 games. runner on fi rst for what would’ve been a walks, throwing 129 pitches. In Chicago, Javier Báez homered, Josh Bell went deep for Washington degrees C). Swiatek’s father, Tomasz, Robinson Chirinos went deep twice, six-out save. Japan 5, Italy 0 competed in quadruple sculls in Seoul, in the fourth inning, but that 1-0 lead Juan Minaya (1-0) worked a score- Zach Davies earned his fi rst victory since for the Nationals didn’t last long. Balti- Yu Yamamoto hit a two-run homer in fi nishing seventh. At the 2018 Youth a combined no-hitter last month and Chi- less eighth and Taylor Rogers earned his the fourth, and Yamato Fujita started with Games, Swiatek paired with Kaja Juvan more scored twice in the fourth before ninth save with a scoreless ninth. cago beat Arizona. Valaika’s solo shot in the fi fth. Valaika two innings on the mound and then as a of Slovenia to win a doubles medal. Báez gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead in the Mariners 4, Athletics 3 Also advancing on the hard courts designated player added a three-run drive fi rst inning with a long three-run homer In Seattle, Cal Raleigh and Luis Tor- in the fi fth. Yamamoto drove a 66 mph of the Ariake Tennis Park were recent to left. The Cubs added three more in the Iga Swiatek, of Poland, returns to French Open fi nalist Anastasia Pavly- BASEBALL rens hit back-to-back homers, Dylan fastball to the opposite fi eld in right-center third, capped by Nico Hoerner’s two-run Moore scored the go-ahead run on con- Mona Barthel, of Germany, during uchenkova of ROC and Viktorija Golu- single. the tennis competition at the 2020 bic of Switzerland. Pavlyuchenkova ap- secutive wild pitches and Seattle beat Summer Olympics, on July 24, in Astros 7, Rangers 3 hit another solo homer in the seventh to Oakland. peared to struggle with the heat during a make it 6-1. OLYMPICS Tokyo, Japan. (AP) 6-0, 6-1 win over Sara Errani. In Houston, Kyle Tucker hit a three- The Mariners’ Yusei Kikuchi struck Padres 5, Marlins 2 out a career-high 12 and the Athletics’ Frankie Montas fanned 10. Neither start- off Alexia Lacatena (0-1) for Japan’s fi rst In Miami, Joe Musgrove pitched six er fi gured in the decision in a game that hit of the game and her second home run MLB Results/Standings solid innings, Tommy Pham led off with included punches thrown in the stands of the Olympics. She has fi ve RBIs. a homer run and San Diego beat Miami. during a fi ght that attracted a lot of views Winless in his previous three starts, on social media. Fujita’s drive off Ilaria Cacciamani Musgrove (6-7) allowed two runs and gave her three home runs and six RBIs. WASHINGTON, July 24, (AP): Results and standings from the MLB games on Friday. six hits, struck out four and walked one. Pirates 6, Giants 4 Miu Goto (2-0) struck out nine in NY Mets 3 Toronto 0 Seattle 4 Oakland 3 Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless ninth fi ve innings of one-hit relief, combin- Baltimore 6 Washington 1 Chicago Cubs 8 Arizona 3 In San Francisco, Bryan Reynolds Tampa Bay 10 Cleveland 5 Philadelphia 5 Atlanta 1 for his major league-best 30th save. homered, Adam Frazier drew a bases- ing with Fujita on a three-hitter. Japan Boston 6 NY Yankees 2 San Diego 5 Miami 2 Adam Duvall homered for Miami. loaded walk to force in the go-ahead run (3-0) has outscored opponents 16-3. Kansas City 5 Detroit 3 Cincinnati 6 St Louis 5 Zach Thompson (2-3) was the loser. in the seventh inning when Pittsburgh Italy (0-3) has been outscored 8-0. Milwaukee 7 Chicago White Sox 1 Pittsburgh 6 San Francisco 4 Minnesota 5 LA Angels 4 Colorado 9 LA Dodgers (10 inn) 6 Reds 6, Cardinals 5 scored three times without a hit, and the Canada 7, Australia 1 Pirates beat San Francisco. Houston 7 Texas 3 In Cincinnati, Tyler Stephenson drove American League National League Gregory Polanco added an RBI triple Jenn Salling and Erika Polidori hit East Division East Division in Kyle Farmer with a tiebreaking sacri- early two-run doubles for Canada, and fi ce fl y in the eighth inning, rallying Cin- for Pittsburgh, which snapped a four- W L Pct GB W L Pct GB game skid. Australia left the bases loaded in each of Boston 60 38 .612 _ New York 51 43 .543 _ cinnati past St. Louis. the fi rst two innings. Canada improved Tampa Bay 59 39 .602 1 Philadelphia 48 48 .500 4 Farmer also homered for the Reds, It was 3-all when Dominic Leone (2- New York 50 46 .521 9 Atlanta 47 49 .490 5 1) walked Jacob Stallings leading off the to 2-1 behind 5 2/3 innings of shutout Toronto 48 45 .516 9-1/2 Washington 45 51 .469 7 The Reds shook off long home runs by Paul Goldschmidt and Harrison Bader seventh and Kevin Newman reached on relief from Jenna Caira and Lauren Baltimore 32 64 .333 27 Miami 41 57 .418 12 a fi elder’s choice when shortstop Thairo Regula, the 39-year-old sister of retired Central Division Central Division to maintain their hold on second place in W L Pct GB W L Pct GB the NL Central. Estrada’s throw to second was late. All-Star outfi elder Jason Bay. Chicago 58 39 .598 _ Milwaukee 57 41 .582 _ Rockies 9, Dodgers 6, 10 innings Canada starter Sara Groenewegen Right-hander Brad Brach (1-1) Cleveland 48 47 .505 9 Cincinnati 50 47 .515 6-1/2 pitched a perfect eighth. Right-hander In Los Angeles, Trevor Story homered walked Jade Wall with the bases loaded Detroit 47 52 .475 12 St Louis 49 49 .500 8 and drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th in the fi rst, then escaped further trouble Minnesota 42 56 .429 16-1/2 Chicago 48 50 .490 9 Heath Hembree earned his fi rst save, Kansas City 40 55 .421 17 Pittsburgh 37 60 .381 19-1/2 striking out the side in the ninth, includ- inning as Colorado took advantage of the when she threw a called third strike past West Division West Division ing pinch-hitting Adam Wainwright for Dodgers’ recent bullpen woes. Michelle Cox and fanned Rachel Lack. W L Pct GB W L Pct GB the fi nal out. Giovanny Gallegos (5-3) Charlie Blackmon added a two-run Caira (1-1) allowed two hits in 4 2/3 in- Houston 59 39 .602 _ San Francisco 61 36 .629 _ took the loss. homer in the 10th to help the Rockies nings, relieving with the bases loaded in Oakland 56 43 .566 3-1/2 Los Angeles 59 40 .596 3 top Los Angeles for just the third time Seattle 52 46 .531 7 San Diego 58 42 .580 4-1/2 Brewers 7, White Sox 1 the second after Wall allowed Taylah Los Angeles 47 49 .490 11 Colorado 43 54 .443 18 in 11 games this season. Colorado won Tsitsikronis’ bases-loaded drive to deep Texas 35 63 .357 24 Arizona 30 69 .303 32 In Milwaukee, Tyrone Taylor hit a for the fi rst time in four games at Dodger left to drop just foul. grand slam to cap Milwaukee’s six-run Stadium. Osaka lights Olympic cauldron

What a moment for Naomi embattled Haiti because that’s Japan because of her race, Naomi Osaka Osaka. For the new Japan. where her father is from; and with her family having moved lights the Olympic For racial injustice. For female surely in the United States, be- to the U.S. when she was 3. fl ame during the athletes. For tennis. cause that’s where the globe’s Her emergence as a top ten- opening ceremony The four-time Grand Slam highest-earning female ath- nis player has challenged in the Olympic winner lit the cauldron at the lete lives and where she has public attitudes about iden- Stadium at the opening ceremony of the To- been outspoken about racial tity in a homogeneous cul- 2020 Summer kyo Olympics on Friday. injustice. ture that is being pushed to Olympics, on It was a choice that could Plus, everywhere in be- change. July 23, in Tokyo, be appreciated worldwide: In tween, because Osaka is a It’s always a mystery until Japan. (AP) Japan, of course, the country superstar. the last moment who gets the where Osaka was born and But she has often received honor of lighting the cauldron. the nation that she plays for; in an uncomfortable welcome in (AP)

ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021

Page 15

China’s Yufei, McKeon of Australia tie in women’s 100 butterfl y Japanese star Seto misses in 400 IM as Olympic swim starts

TOKYO, July 24, (AP): Daiya Seto was so confi dent of advancing to the 400-meter individual medley fi nal in his home Olympics, the Japanese star made a costly mistake. He didn’t go fast enough. Seto surprisingly failed to qualify, fi nishing ninth on the opening night of swimming on Saturday. He missed the eighth and last spot for Sunday morn- ing’s fi nal by 32-hundreds of a second. He touched in 4 minutes, 10.52 sec- onds. “Even in the last hundred, I didn’t let it all out,” Seto said through a trans- lator. “Even when the other swimmers were coming near me.” Seto was the bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Games and a three-time Sweden’s Magdalena Eriksson world champion in the event. He goes for a header against Austral- was trying to deliver Japan a second ia’s Sam Kerr (2) during a women’s straight gold medal in the event won in soccer match at the 2020 Summer Rio by Kosuke Hagino. Olympics, on July 24, in Saitama, “Five years ago, I went too fast Japan. (AP) in the prelims and couldn’t go fast enough in the fi nals,” Seto said. “I tried to avoid that.” Instead, the opposite happened and now Seto will have to focus on his two remaining events. Brendon Smith of Australia topped the men’s 400 IM qualifi ers in 4:09.27. Lewis Clareburt of New Zealand was second-quickest in 4:09.49. American Chase Kalisz, the silver medalist in Rio, qualifi ed third in 4:09.65. David Verraszto of Hungary, the oldest swimmer in the event at age 32, moved on in fourth. Also advancing was Jay Litherland of the U.S. SWIMMING Brendon Smith, of Australia, swims during a heat for the men’s 400-meter individual medley at the 2020 Summer Olympics, on July 24, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP) Without fans in the 15,000-seat To- kyo Aquatics Centre, masked teams had ample room to spread out in so- Netherlands midfi eld Xan Gerdien cially distanced seats above the deck. de Waard, (left), and India midfi eld Carapaz wins men’s road race The U.S. contingent waved tiny Amer- Monika (4) battle for the ball dur- ican fl ags and pounded red-white-and- ing a women’s fi eld hockey match blue Thunderstix, while the Germans at the 2020 Summer Olympics, on spread their large-sized fl ag over two July 24, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP) rows of seats. Waiting for the session to begin, Britain beat SA for Ecuador 1st cycling medal the Americans chanted “Dr. Biden, Dr. Biden” and clapped. The U.S. fi rst lady, sitting across the pool, stood and Belgium’s Van Aert claims Silver, Pogacar of Slovenia take bronze waved back. The U.S. team was easily Belgium top the most spirited, on its feet, whistling and cheering for its swimmers. OYAMA, Japan, July 24, But none of the usual electric- ity that typically courses through the Netherlands (AP): Richard Carapaz Olympic pool was present. Teams TOKYO, July 24, (AP): Not even rode away from the biggest Kuwait athletes ready as shouted the names of their swimmers Alexander Hendrickx knew he could names in cycling to win the during the races, and the sound of score like that. Olympic road race Satur- water splashing was easily heard and The Belgium defender knocked in Tokyo Oly get underway music played. three goals during a fi ve-minute stretch day before one of the few Defending Olympic champion and late in the third quarter Saturday to help TOKYO, July 24, (KUNA): Kuwaiti Men’s Skeet shooter, said world recordholder Adam Peaty of crowds at the Tokyo Games, Kuwait’s contingent of athletes “concentration” is key to excel in his team beat the Netherlands 3-1 in the giving Ecuador just its third Britain easily qualifi ed in the men’s men’s Olympic fi eld hockey tourna- participating in the Tokyo 2020 a precision sport such as shooting, 100 breaststroke in 57.56 seconds. ment. medal ever and the fi rst of Olympic Games said on Saturday adding that his recent participation U.S. teammates Michael Andrew and The Netherlands led 1-0 before they are fully “ready” to represent in similar events, which include a Andrew Wilson moved on in third and any color in the sport. their country just as the marquee pan-Arab contest in Egypt, had Hendrickx scored on a penalty corner, Embracing his nickname of “The fourth. a penalty stroke and another penalty event overshadowed by the COVID prepared him well for the show- It wasn’t as easy for Katinka Hosszu Locomotive,” Carapaz powered pandemic opened in a city under a down on Monday. of Hungary. corner. He credited his teammates with away from American breakaway creating the opportunities. state of emergency because of a Expecting “stiff competition” She barely qualifi ed for the wom- It was a matchup of powerhouses on buddy Brandon McNulty as they resurgence of new cases. ahead of the contest, Al-Rashidi en’s 400 IM fi nal, claiming the the opening day of men’s fi eld hockey. approached the fi nish at Fuji Inter- Men’s Skeet shooter Abdullah said he looked forward to delight- seventh spot in 4:36.01. At 32, the Belgium, which beat the Netherlands national Speedway. Carapaz was Al-Rashidi, making his seventh ing Kuwaiti fans and giving them defending Olympic champion and for the world title in 2018, is No. 2 in far enough ahead at the line that he appearance at the Olympic Games, a reason to celebrate, pointing out fi ve-time world champion was the the FIH world rankings while the Neth- was able to slap his handlebars in Richard Carapaz of Ecuador com- said his participation this year that he was ready to prove his oldest woman in the fi eld. Emma erlands is No. 3. petes in the men’s cycling road came by mere happenstance as he mettle with some of the world’s Weyant, a 19-year-old American, led celebration and mug for the camer- was chosen to replace his fellow best Olympic shooters. Belgium squandered a lead before as, sticking his tongue out in play- race at the 2020 Summer Olym- the way in 4:33.55. losing to the Netherlands in the Euro- pics, on July 24, in Oyama, Japan. athlete Saud Al-Kanderi, who Swimmers Lara Dashti and In the women’s 100 butterfl y, Chi- Hockey semifi nals last month, so hold- ful disbelief. pulled out of the event for person- Abbas Qali, with the former being na’s Zhang Yufei and Emma McKeon ing on for the victory on Saturday was The only other Olympic medals ever al reasons, seeing the incident as a the first Kuwaiti female athlete to of Australia tied for the fastest qualify- important. CYCLING won by his small South American na- silver lining that would allow him have lifted the national flag at an ing time of 55.82. Netherlands coach Max Caldas said tion have come in race walking. Jeffer- to chalk up more accomplishments Olympic opening ceremony just a Defending Olympic champion Sa- it’s too early in pool play to worry. The son Perez captured gold at the 1996 At- in his Olympic career. day earlier, both said they were rah Sjöström of Sweden advanced to Dutch are looking forward to Sunday The chasing group rounded the cor- lanta Games and added a silver medal Al-Rashidi, who won bronze in equally prepared for their respec- the semifi nals in third at 56.18. Her night’s match against South Africa. ner in sight of him at the fi nish line, at the 2008 Games in Beijing. the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, tive competitions on July 29-30. training was disrupted after she broke “This says nothing about the tourna- then played a game of cat-and-mouse Dutch rider Bauke Mollema was promised to do everything in his The Kuwaiti athletes haven her right elbow in February, slipping ment yet,” Caldas said. “It’s all about for the other two medals. Belgian star fourth and Canadian Michael Woods power to propel his country to been “well taken care of” ahead of on ice. how we start tomorrow.” Wout van Aert, who did everything he fi fth after launching a failed attack of prominence in an event of such the spectator-free Games in a bid A pair of American teenagers moved Still, the third quarter collapse both- could to pull back Carapaz on the run- his own, while McNulty fi nished sixth magnitude, simultaneously reach- to encourage them to put on on in their Olympic debuts. Huske, an ered Caldas. in to the fi nish, was rewarded for the in one of the best fi nishes by an Ameri- ing another highlight of what has career-defining performances, 18-year-old from Virginia, was fourth- The Netherlands got a yellow card in effort by edging Tour de France cham- can since Alexi Grewal won the 1984 been a prolific Olympic odyssey. according to the country’s quickest. Claire Curzan, a 17-year-old the fourth quarter for having 12 players pion Tadej Pogacar in a photo fi nish. gold medal. Making his Olympic debut, Olympic committee member from North Carolina, fi nished 10th. on the fi eld, which forced team captain Carapaz, who fi nished third at the The ban on spectators for this Sum- Mansour Al-Rashidi, another Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah. Current world champion Mag- Billy Bakker to sit out for fi ve minutes. Tour six days ago, was given merely mer Olympics did not extend past gie MacNeil of Canada advanced in an outsider’s chance on what was Tokyo, and that meant thousands of fourth. widely considered one of the toughest them - wearing sun hats and waving glimpse of these Olympics, especially one point, traditional drummers pro- In the men’s 400 free, Henning FIELD HOCKEY courses in Olympic history. But with fans - turned up at the speedway for the after a year’s delay? Many showed vided a roadside soundtrack. Muhlleitner of Germany qualifi ed just one teammate on the start line, he fi nish. There was still a cap of 50% of up seven hours before riders were ex- Once the race began it was defend- fastest in 3:43.67. Australians Elijah In other men’s action, No. 4 India perfectly played off some of the other capacity, but that left room for about pected to reach them, spending almost ing Olympic champion Greg van Aver- Winnington and Jack McLoughlin and hung on late to beat New Zealand 3-2. powerhouse teams, ultimately getting 11,000 fans overlooking one of the the entire time baking in the sweltering maet, who triumphed in stunning fash- U.S. teammates Kieran Smith and Jake New Zealand had six shots in the fi nal his tactics just right when it mattered longest straightaways in motorsports. sun. ion along Copacabana Beach fi ve years Mitchell all advanced to Sunday’s fi - three minutes without netting a goal, the most. How eager were they to get a rare Thousands more lined the route. At ago, going to the front for Belgium. nal. and India got two saves on penalty cor- Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan, ners in the fi nal minute. New Zealand Meg Harris, Madison Wilson and made only one of 10 shots on penalty British women beat Japan, reach Olympic soccer quarterfi nals Bronte Campbell led the women’s corners. 4x100 freestyle relay qualifying in India’s Harmanpreet Singh scored 3:31.73. The U.S. team of Olivia Smo- two goals – both on penalty corners. liga, Catie DeLoof, Allison Schmitt Japan felt like it missed an opportu- US rebound from opening loss with win over New Zealand and Natalie Hinds advanced in fi fth. nity, and now the hosts must regroup for Sunday’s match against Argentina. SAITAMA, Japan, July 24, (AP): The needed to be “ruthless” against New to nod the ball into the net. Earlier, Argentina and Spain tied at Americans rebounded from their open- Zealand. Britain leads Group E with six 1-1. Argentina, the defending Olympic ing loss with a 6-1 rout of New Zealand Ellen White scored her third goal in points, two more than Canada, which champion, took the lead in the second in front of the First Lady on Saturday in two games at the Olympics, heading beat Chile 2-1 in Saturday’s other quarter on a goal by Agustin Mazzilli. the women’s soccer tournament at the Britain to a 1-0 victory over Japan and game. First place will be decided on Pau Quemada scored on a penalty cor- Tokyo Olympics. earning a place in the women’s soccer Tuesday when Britain plays Canada. ner in the middle of the fourth quarter With the United States leading quarterfi nals. Dominique Janssen’s 79th-minute to tie the score for Spain. 2-0 at the break, Jill Biden arrived in goal pulled the Netherlands into a 3-3 In late men’s matches, Britain de- time to watch the team put the game draw with Brazil in women’s soccer at feated South Africa 3-1 and Germany away in the second half at Saitama SOCCER the Tokyo Olympics. rolled past Canada 7-1. In women’s ac- Stadium. Vivianne Miedema gave the Dutch tion, the Netherlands topped India 5-1. The United States was stunned by The striker scored both goals in the early lead in the third minute but Felice Albers scored two goals on two Sweden in the fi rst match, losing 3-0. It Wednesday’s win over Chile and then Debinha countered with an equalizer shots for the No. 1-ranked Dutch. was the team’s fi rst loss since January added another in the same Sapporo in the 16th. The teams were knotted In the other women’s match, Ireland 2019, and snapped a 44-game unbeaten Dome in the 74th minute against the until the 59th, when Miedema scored topped South Africa 2-0 in its fi rst ever streak. The Americans had not been host nation. another. Olympic match. Roisin Upton scored held scoreless since 2017. The goal came from a defensive Marta converted a penalty kick to tie Ireland’s fi rst Olympic goal in the But the Americans vowed to regain mix-up after Lucy Bronze’s cross came the score 2-2 in the 64th minute, before New Zealand’s goalkeeper Anna Leat (18) makes a save against United ninth minute, and Sarah Torrans added control of the tournament. Defender into the penalty area. White got ahead Ludmila’s goal about four minutes lat- States’ Carli Lloyd (10) during a women’s soccer match at the 2020 Sum- another in the third quarter. Kelley O’Hara said the United States of goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita, rising er gave Brazil the temporary lead. mer Olympics, on July 24, in Saitama, Japan. (AP) ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021 16

Fireworks illuminate over the National Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics, July 23, in Tokyo. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com TAKATO CLAIMS JAPAN’S 1ST TITLE WITH JUDO WIN; SZILAGYI MAKES HISTORY Yang takes fi rst gold at Tokyo Oly

Krasniqi wins Kosovo’s second-ever Olympic medal as Foroughi sets shooting record

TOKYO, July 24, (AP): Yang overtook Anasta- siia Galashina of Russia to win the fi rst gold medal of the Tokyo Games in the women’s 10-meter air ri- fl e Saturday. Her last shot was her worst of the fi nals but still rallied her past Galashina with an Olym- pic-record score of 251.8. Switzerland’s Nina Chris- ten took bronze. “It’s unbelievable that I can be here,” Yang said through an inter- preter. “I was really nervous. The competition was really tight, but I’m so happy that I could win.” Galashina led Yang by 0.2 points when they fi red almost simultane- ously on their last shots. The limit- ed crowd at Asaka Shooting Range let out gasps as the scores posted a split second later.

OLYMPICS

Yang, a 21-year-old who qualifi ed sixth of the eight medal competitors, missed the innermost circle on her fi - nal shot, a 9.8 that she fi gured would cost her gold. She looked up to see Galashina missed the two center rings. The Rus- sian’s 8.9 meant IOC President Thom- as Bach would present Yang the gold medal on a tray — per pandemic pro- tocols — instead of Galashina. Naohisa Takato won Japan’s fi rst gold medal at its home Olympics, beat- Germany’s Timm Alexander Herzbruch (12) battles for the ball against Canada’s Oliver William Scholfi eld (8) during a men’s fi eld hockey match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday in ing Taiwan’s Yang Yung-wei in the Tokyo, Japan. (AP) men’s 60-kilogram judo fi nal. Takato won his fi nal three bouts in vide a much-needed jolt of excitement Reigning champ Uchimura out sudden-death golden score, but took for a nation still feeling profoundly Kuwaiti rower Al-Fadhel the fi nal a bit anticlimactically after ambivalent about these Olympics and Yang committed too many fouls. discouraged by the scandals and coro- The charismatic Takato’s success in navirus setbacks surrounding them. moves into E/F semifi nals Japan’s homegrown sport could pro- An San and teenager Kim Je Deok Japan sprint to top TOKYO, July 24, (KUNA): Ku- into Sunday’s E/F semifi nals at the waiti rower Abdulrahman Al-Fadhel 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Zim- fi nished fourth in the repechage of babwe’s Peter Purcell-Gilpin won the Men’s Single Sculls on Satur- the Repechage 3 at the Sea Forest of the leaderboard day with a time of 9:04.73, moving Waterway in Tokyo.

paired up to lead South Korea to a now captured 14 of 17 gold medals in TOKYO, July 24, (AP): Kohei fi rst), you know, really (puts pressure archery team competitions since the Uchimura’s gymnastics career is on other teams),” Hashimoto said. gold medal in the Olympic debut of ar- nearly over. The Japanese star can take The party, however, will go on chery’s mixed team event at the Tokyo current format was introduced to the Olympics in 1988. solace knowing that the sport the two- without Uchimura. Competing as an Games. time Olympic champion led to glory individual on high bar — his signature On a sizzling Saturday at the Yu- What’s more, it was the 24th Olym- pic gold medal for South Korea’s ar- appears to be in good hands in his event — the 32-year-old widely con- menoshima Park Archery Field, they home country. sidered to be the greatest men’s gym- held off Gabriela Schloesser and Steve chery program, matching short track speed skating for most by the country Daiki Hashi- nast of all time fell midway through his Wijler of the Netherlands by a tally of moto topped in a particular sport. routine and will not advance to event 5-3 to bring home yet another archery Olympic qualify- Alejandra Valencia and Luis Alva- fi nals later in the Games. Kuwaiti rower Abdulrahman Al-Fadhel gold for South Korea. The country has ing on Saturday, rez combined for Mexico and knocked putting on a show off Yasemin Anagoz and Mete Gazoz inside the largely GYMNASTICS of Turkey to earn the bronze medal. Summer Olympics Medals/Medalists empty Ariake Sun Yiwen of China defeated fi ve- Gymnastics Cen- The program Uchimura led to Olym- time Olympian Ana Maria Popescu tre to help Japan pic glory, however, seems to be back in of Romania 11-10 in overtime to win sprint to the top form after ceding the spotlight to China gold in the women’s épée fencing of the leader- and Russia in recent years. Japan’s team G S B T Silver: Italy, Luigi Samele, competition. China 3 0 1 4 Bronze: South Korea, Junghwan Kim, board. Uchimura total of 262.251 was just ahead of Chi- Popescu tied the score at 10 with 3 Hashimoto’s na’s 262.061 and ROC’s 261.945. South Korea 1 0 2 3 Women’s Epee Individual seconds remaining to go to overtime, Italy 1 1 0 2 Gold: China, Yiwen Sun all-around total of 88.531 pushed Ja- The United States, Great Britain, Japan 1 1 0 2 Silver: Romania, Ana Maria Popescu but Sun soon scored the winning point pan past rivals China and ROC, as the Switzerland, Germany and Ukraine Russia 0 1 1 2 Bronze: Estonia, Katrina Lehis in the deciding period. Russian team is known, to the top spot also advanced to Monday night’s fi nal, Serbia 0 1 1 2 Sun completed her set of Olym- in qualifying. The Japanese will bid when the format switches to “three up/ Ecuador 1 0 0 1 JUDO pic medals after winning individual Monday night for an Olympic title to three count.” Teams competed four Hungary 1 0 0 1 Men — 60 kg bronze and team silver at the 2016 Rio back up the one they captured in Rio athletes on each event in qualifying, Iran 1 0 0 1 Gold: Japan, Naohisa Takato de Janeiro Games. Popescu has yet to de Janeiro fi ve years ago. with each team able to drop the lowest Kosovo 1 0 0 1 Silver: Taiwan, Yung Wei Yang win an individual gold medal at any of “Passing the qualifi cation round (in score on a given apparatus. Thailand 1 0 0 1 Bronze: Kazakhstan, Yeldos Smetov, Luka Mkheidze her fi ve Olympic appearances despite Belgium 0 1 0 1 Women — 48 kg often being among the favorites. She Taiwan 0 1 0 1 Gold: Kosovo, Distria Krasniqi won team gold in 2016. Aron Szilagyi of Hungary became claiming a gold medal in Japan’s be- India 0 1 0 1 Silver: Japan, Funa Tonaki Katrina Lehis of Estonia took the the fi rst Olympic fencer to win three in- loved, homegrown martial art. Her Netherlands 0 1 0 1 Bronze: Ukraine, Daria Bilodid, Urantsetseg Munkh- bronze by beating Russian fencer dividual sabre gold medals after beating success would have provided a much- Romania 0 1 0 1 bat Aizanat Murtazaeva 15-8. Luigi Samele 15-7 in the men’s fi nal. needed jolt of positivity for a nation Spain 0 1 0 1 Szilagyi used his fast refl exes to still feeling profoundly ambivalent Tunisia 0 1 0 1 SHOOTING build an early 7-1 lead and held off a about these Olympics and discouraged Estonia 0 0 1 1 10m Air Pistol Men brief comeback from his Italian oppo- by the scandals and coronavirus set- France 0 0 1 1 nent before closing out the win. backs surrounding them. Indonesia 0 0 1 1 Gold: Iran, Javad Foroughi Israel 0 0 1 1 Silver: Serbia, Damir Mikec, Szilagyi won gold at the 2012 Lon- Javad Foroughi has become the old- Kazakhstan 0 0 1 1 Bronze: China, Wei Pang, don Games and the 2016 Rio de Ja- est Iranian athlete to win an Olympic Mexico 0 0 1 1 10m Air Rifl e Women neiro Games. medal, earning gold in men’s 10-meter Mongolia 0 0 1 1 Gold: China, Qian Yang Samele reached the fi nal after a re- air pistol. Slovenia 0 0 1 1 Silver: Russia, Anastasiia Galashina, markable win in the semifi nals. He Foroughi set an Olympic record Switzerland 0 0 1 1 Bronze: Switzerland, Nina Christen came back from 12-6 down to beat with 244.8 points, fi nishing 6.9 ahead Ukraine 0 0 1 1 TAEKWONDO Kim Junghwan of South Korea 15-12. of silver medalist Damir Mikec of Ser- Kim took bronze with a 15-11 win bia. China’s Pang Wei, the 2008 gold Medalists Men — 58kg over Sandro Bazadze of Georgia. medalist, took bronze. Gold: Italy, Vito Dell’aquila Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo beat The 41-year-old Foroughi surpasses ARCHERY Silver: Tunisia, Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi Mixed Team Funa Tonaki in the women’s 48-kilo- Iranian weightlifter Mahmoud Namd- Gold: South Korea, Je Deok Kim, San An Bronze: South Korea, Jun Jang, Mikhail Artamonov gram Olympic judo fi nal, depriving jou, who was 38 when he took bronze Silver: Netherlands, Steve Wijler, Gabriela Schloesser Women — 49kg host Japan of its fi rst gold medal in its at the 1956 Melbourne Games. Bronze: Mexico, Luis Alvarez, Alejandra Valencia Gold: Thailand, Panipak Wongpattanakit Silver: Spain, Adriana Cerezo Iglesias home Olympics and winning Kosovo’s Foroughi, ranked fourth in the CYCLING ROAD Bronze: Israel, Abishag Semberg, Tijana Bogdanovic second-ever Olympic medal. world, qualifi ed fi fth and immediately Men’s Road Race Krasniqi won on a throw with 20 jumped to the lead in the fi nals with a Gold: Ecuador, Richard Carapaz WEIGHTLIFTING seconds left, scoring a waza-ari and series of shots in the 10-ring. He led Silver: Belgium, Wout van Aert Women’s — 49kg Thailand’s Panipak Wongphat- claiming a title that moved her to tears Mikec by 4.2 points entering the fi nal Bronze: Slovenia, Tadej Pogacar Gold: China, Zhihui Hou thanakit holds her country’s na- moments later. two shots and celebrated by waving his Silver: India, Chanu Saikhom Mirabai, tional fl ag after defeating Spain’s Although Krasniqi was the top seed, towel before kneeling on it to pray. FENCING Bronze: Indonesia, Windy Cantika Aisah Adriana Cerezo to win a gold med- she was severely challenged by the Panipak Wongpattanakit of Thai- Men’s Sabre Individual Note: Table reads as nation, gold, silver, bronze al during the women’s 49kg taek- 4-foot-10 Tonaki, who beat a series of land and Vito Dell’Aquila of Italy won Gold: Hungary Aron Szilagyi and total (AP) wondo match at the 2020 Summer diffi cult opponents to reach the fi nal. the fi rst two gold medals of the Olym- Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. (AP) Tonaki fell agonizingly short of pic taekwondo competition.

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